An Alberta certified medical specialist who has worked for Alberta Health Services (AHS) for over a decade says the Alberta government waiting “yet again” until the last minute to extend the deadline for their mandatory vaccination program has been “abusive.”.On Monday – one day before mandatory vaccinations were to be implemented for all AHS staff – the Alberta government extended the deadline for a second time..“This is almost emotionally abusive as they waited until the last minute,” the specialist told the Western Standard on the condition of anonymity due to the threat of job loss. .“We are undergoing an emotional rollercoaster ride.”.AHS had originally set October 31 as the deadline for all staff to be double-vaccinated or face unpaid leave but announced on October 22 they were extending the deadline to November 30. .The extension was to allow “all employees more time to submit their proof of vaccination and, if they haven’t yet, to get fully vaccinated,” said AHS President and CEO, Dr. Verna Yiu at the time..“It’s discriminatory and unscientific,” said the specialist..“The vaccinated workers can also catch COVID and transmit it to others. There is no justification for this discriminatory practice.”.The specialist also said many unvaccinated workers will be denied the testing options, “so some (medical workers) are more essential than others,” calling it another “discriminatory action.” .The medical specialist pointed to a number of studies including one from the Lancet, a well-respected, peer-reviewed medical journal..The Lancet publication posted October 29, 2021, concluded people who have been inoculated against COVID-19 can spread the delta variant similar to those who have not been vaccinated..“Vaccination reduces the risk of delta variant infection and accelerates viral clearance. Nonetheless, fully vaccinated individuals with breakthrough infections have peak viral load similar to unvaccinated cases and can efficiently transmit infection in household settings, including to fully vaccinated contacts,” concluded the study. .Another study published on September 30, 2021, in the European Journal of epidemiology says, “there appears to be no discernable relationship between percentage of population fully vaccinated and new COVID-19 cases..“In fact, the trend line suggests a marginally positive association such that countries with higher percentage of population fully vaccinated have higher COVID-19 cases per 1 million people.”.“They could argue vaccinated workers are less likely to catch COVID, but the fact is, the unvaccinated workers would stay home if they caught it,” said the specialist..“The vaccinated may catch COVID and not realize they have it, show up at work and spread it to others as they may get no or fewer symptoms and chalk it up as allergy, or something..“That may partly explain why the more vaccinated countries struggled more with COVID. We need to look at the evidence and there is no scientific evidence to suggest that vaccinated workers are less of a danger to others than the unvaccinated.”.The Alberta government has directed AHS to temporarily offer “frequent and targeted COVID-19 testing as part of the organization’s Immunization of Workers for COVID-19 Policy.”.According to a government release, the policy update extends to “sites considered at significant risk of service disruptions resulting from staffing shortages due to unimmunized employees.”.“We fully support AHS’ immunization policy, and I appreciate the tens of thousands of health-care workers who have made the right choice to get vaccinated,” said Alberta’s Minister of Health, Jason Copping..“This directive is about protecting patient care – primarily in rural areas – which will always be my top priority.”.Current AHS policy says employees who chose not to be fully immunized or those who have not been granted a valid exemption will be put on an unpaid leave of absence..The mandatory vaccine policy deadline for healthcare workers has been extended to December 13 when the proof of negative COVID-19 testing program will be put in place for specified sites that will be identified at that time. The Alberta government confirmed they will review the testing program policy by March 2022..AHS says 96% of their full and part-time staff have been fully vaccinated and more than 99% of physicians and intensive care unit staff have submitted their proof of immunization..AHS says it will continue to evaluate medical staffing needs and will provide a full list of sites where testing is taking place by the December 13 deadline..The Western Standard reached out to AHS for comment and was provided with a written statement..“Yesterday, at the direction of the provincial Government, we informed our staff and physicians that AHS will temporarily introduce frequent, targeted COVID-19 testing as part of the organization’s mandatory immunization policy..“The temporary testing option will be introduced at a small number of affected clinical work locations starting on Dec. 13, 2021. The policy deadline for staff to be fully immunized will also be adjusted to Dec. 13, 2021, to accommodate the introduction of this testing option..The AHS spokesperson said staff at affected sites who are not fully immunized will have to show proof of an approved COVID-19 test with a negative result, at their own expense, no more than 48 hours before their shifts. Any worker with a positive test result will be required to be off work until results of a follow-up PCR test are received..Unvaccinated medical workers at these affected sites who do not provide regular proof of a negative COVID-19 test will face an unpaid leave of absence..“Healthcare workers have an ethical and professional responsibility to protect others,” said the AHS spokesperson..“Immunization is a tool to assist in meeting this standard.”.The Western Standard contacted Alberta’s Ministry of Health for comment on medical workers feeling emotionally abused and discriminated against but did not hear back in time for publishing..Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
