COVID-19 Vaccine-- Image from Canadian Press

By Connor Gunn

AHS revoking staff COVID vaccine policy March 10

Mar 8, 2022 | 4:23 PM

EDMONTON, AB – Health Minister Jason Copping announced Tuesday that Alberta Health Services (AHS) is removing its staff vaccine policy as of 4:00 p.m. March 10, 2022.

Copping says it’s a good time to remove the mandate as, he says, “Fortunately now we are at the tail end of the Omicron wave, and with our high vaccination rates, we are in a very different situation.”

On August 31, 2021, AHS announced that all employees and contracted healthcare providers needed to be fully vaccinated by October 31, 2021.

At that time, the provincial release stated, “This necessary step is required to protect patients, vulnerable and immuno-compromised Albertans, and anyone who visits or works at any AHS site, including healthcare facilities.”

Read more: Alberta Health requiring all physicians, staff, and contracted providers to be fully vaccinated.

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

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

Effective March 10, 2022, AHS will amend the organization’s Immunization of Workers for COVID-19 Policy.

AHS states that 97.7% of AHS full and part-time employees and 99.8 per cent of physicians are fully vaccinated.

Copping says, “AHS’ immunization policy was implemented to protect patients, workers, and the public earlier in the pandemic. However, we are now in a different stage of our response, and the overwhelming majority of our healthcare workforce understands the importance of getting vaccinated. We need to make sure that every healthcare worker who is available to work, can, which is why we are lifting this mandate.”

Under the current policy, a return to work will be handled between staff and workplace leaders.

More information on the vaccine policy can be found at COVID -19 Immunization Policy.