The City of Toronto’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for employees, volunteers, and contractors will be rescinded effective Dec. 1. .“I am proud more than 35,000 members of the Toronto Public Service got vaccinated to protect themselves, their family, the community, and their co-workers,” said City of Toronto Interim City Manager Tracey Cook in a Tuesday press release. .“The vaccination policy achieved its goal and we will continue to follow all the science, evidence, and public health advice as we move forward.”.Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the release said the health and safety of the City of Toronto’s workforce and residents has been its top priority. The city imposed a vaccine mandate for staff in 2021 to promote a safe work environment. .It committed to review this policy often to ensure it was based on science and evidence. With more than 90% of residents and 99% of staff having two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, the release said the data no longer supports a vaccine mandate. .The release went on to say about 350 unionized city employees who did not provide proof of vaccination or were unvaccinated will be reinstated into an unpaid leave. It added staff on unpaid leaves will be eligible to start to return to work on Dec. 1. .The City of Toronto will continue to monitor evolving public health information and COVID-19 to protect the health and safety of its workers. It will aim to meet its obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to take every reasonable precaution to protect employees from workplace hazards. .The City of Toronto pulled a video ad campaign encouraging families to vaccinate their children for COVID-19 after backlash in September. .READ MORE: Toronto pulls controversial ad campaign promoting COVID-19 vaccines for children.One video in particular — which suggested children should not be allowed to play with their friends except if they have been vaccinated — brought about widespread condemnation. ."This video missed the mark on that message and should not have been posted," said Toronto Chief Communications Officer Brad Ross.
