Alberta Health Services (AHS) is requiring all employees – including frontline healthcare workers, physicians, and contracted providers – to be be fully vaccinated for COVID-19..The announcement came on Tuesday, and all workers must be “fully immunized” by October 31, meaning their second shot must be administered no later than October 16..“This is an extraordinary but necessary measure to help protect our vital frontline healthcare teams and help us maintain a safe environment for all patients and clients,” said Dr. Verna Yiu, President and CEO of AHS..“Over the last year and a half, our teams have continued to provide incredible care to anyone who needs it, under extremely trying circumstances. We are grateful for their efforts and are committed to ensuring the safety of our facilities.”.AHS says the new policy will apply to all of their services, such as 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..Contracted continuing care providers and contracted healthcare workers acting on behalf of AHS are included in the policy..Staff members who refuse to get the vaccine but are unable to provide an exemption will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis..AHS employees who can’t get vaccinated due to a medical reason or a reason protected under the Alberta Human Rights Act “will be reasonably accommodated,” said the service..Reid Small is a BC correspondent for the Western Standard.,rsmall@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/reidsmall
