EDMONTON, AB – It looks very few Alberta Health Services (AHS) employees will be out of a job by the end of this month due to a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy.
It was announced in late August that any health care workers not fully-vaccinated by October 31st and who don’t get an accommodation approved to be exempt, would be put on administrative leave without pay.
AHS President, Dr. Verna Yiu says about 92% of part-time and full-time employees as well as doctors have submitted vaccination proof.
“This tells us there is very broad support for the mandatory vaccine policy,” says Dr. Yiu. “We are extremely grateful to all those (AHS employees) who have provided proof of vaccination. We stand by the policy and it will be fully implemented.”
Yiu contends this vaccine policy is essential to ensuring the safety of health care workers, patients, and vulnerable Albertans.
A small number of AHS staff, less than one percent, are seeking a vaccine accommodation for either medical or religious reasons. Those will have be reviewed before getting the green light.
Yiu also says 61 AHS employees across the province have resigned specifically because of the vaccination policy. Of those, 31 are in clinical roles, 11 of whom are registered nurses.
Alberta Health Services is encouraging any health care workers who are still not immunized against COVID-19 to consider doing so or address any concerns they have with their health care provider.