By Chris Brown

An extra month

Deadline for staff vaccinations extended by AHS

Oct 22, 2021 | 12:01 PM

Alberta Health Services has extended its deadline for its mandatory immunization policy by one month.

The provincial health body says all employees, medical and midwifery staff, students, volunteers and contracted health-care providers to provide proof of vaccination before Nov. 30.

The original deadline was Oct. 31.

“We stand by the mandatory immunization policy and it will be fully implemented,” said Dr. Verna Yiu, AHS president and CEO. “We are extending the deadline to give all employees more time to submit their proof of vaccination and, if they haven’t yet, to get fully vaccinated. We’re providing more time so our workforce is as safe and robust as it can be.”

According to AHS, 94 per cent of full-time and part-time AHS employees, 94 per cent of AHS physicians and more than 97 per cent of ICU staff are fully immunized.

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The policy applies to all AHS, Alberta Precision Labs, Carewest, CapitalCare and Covenant Health employees, members of the medical and midwifery staffs, students, and volunteers, and other persons acting on their behalf.

It also applies to about 28,000 casuals employed by AHS. Currently, 76 per cent of casuals have submitted proof of immunization.

The total immunization status of the organization is about 90 per cent.

AHS says it has received a little more than 1,400 requests for exemption on medical or religious grounds. Those exemptions will be reviewed prior to the deadline.

To date, 61 employees have resigned, including 31 in clinical roles, 11 of which are registered nurses.