Alberta Health requiring all physicians, staff, and contracted providers to be fully vaccinated

Aug 31, 2021 | 3:49 PM

EDMONTON, AB – Alberta Health Services(AHS) announced that all employees and contracted healthcare providers that are able to be fully vaccinated have to be immunized by October 31, 2021.

The policy will apply 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.

“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,” the release reads.

Anyone that cannot receive a vaccine due to a medical reason will be excused from the policy.

AHS says any staff members that choose not to receive the vaccine will be addressed and will be educated on the benefits that the COVID vaccine provides.

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Dr. Verna Yiu, President and CEO of AHS, says this next step is “necessary.”

“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.”

“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 this policy is to prevent outbreaks in AHS facilities, to preserve workforce capacity to support the healthcare system, and to protect our workers, patients, visitors, and others accessing AHS facilities.

“The latest an employee could receive their second dose to be in compliance with the new policy is Oct 16, 2021, which allows for the two weeks that must pass to be considered fully immunized,” the province reiterates.

COVID-19 immunization appointments on or before September 6 can be booked through ahs.ca/vaccine.

by Connor Gunn