At least 92 per cent of Alberta healthcare workers vaccinated, 61 employees quit
While the vast majority of Alberta Health Services employees have complied with vaccination rules – 61 out of more than 100,000 decided they’d rather quit than get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Of the 61 that resigned, 31 were in “clinical roles” and 11 are registered nurses.
Thousands more employees – about seven per cent – had not yet submitted proof of vaccination paperwork, president and CEO of AHS Dr. Verna Yiu announced Tuesday
Yiu said 92 per cent of all AHS workers had submitted proof of vaccination, while about 1,200 had claimed a medical or religious exemption.
“Overall this tells us there is very broad support for the mandatory vaccine policy…we stand by the policy, and it will be fully implemented,” Yiu said.
Yiu said some of the 1,200 will be accommodated with exemptions and those who don’t have an exemption granted are still being encouraged to get vaccinated and provide proof.
“Those employees who are not fully immunized in compliance with the policy will be placed on an unpaid leave of absence,” Yiu said.
“With such low numbers we don't anticipate the policy of having any significant impact on our ability to provide care to Albertans.”
Yiu called vaccines “our most effective tool” in reducing transmission of the virus.
AHS announced it’s mandatory vaccination policy Aug. 31, and employees have until Oct. 31 to comply.
On Thursday, an AHS spokesperson clarified that Yiu was referring to part-time and full-time staff only.
“We do not include casual staff in our numbers because we will not be calling on unimmunized casual staff for shifts after the mandatory immunization policy deadline,” Kerry Williamson clarified in an email.
Vaccinations of casual staff stood at about 74 per cent, he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.