Victoria’s 900 employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 5, city officials said Tuesday.
“Vaccines are the strongest prevention measure we have against COVID-19,” city manager Jocelyn Jenkyns said in a statement. “This vaccine requirement will continue to protect employees in all of our workplaces, as well as members of the public who we interact with.”
The Capital Regional District, Saanich, Esquimalt and Central Saanich are requiring all their workers to be fully vaccinated by mid-December. North Saanich also intends to issue a mandate in the coming weeks, and Sidney is exploring the possibility.
Jenkyns said the city’s requirement aligns with the provincial government’s announcement that all public service employees are required to be vaccinated and the provincial health officer’s encouragement to all employers to put vaccine policies in place.
“The [Jan. 5] deadline was chosen because it allows sufficient time for employees who have not yet received their first dose of vaccine to become fully vaccinated,” said Jenkyns.
A city spokesman said the order applies to Victoria firfefighters and staff, but not the Victoria Police Department.
A request for comment was not immediately returned by VicPD. A spokesman, however, confirmed a vaccine policy will be coming into effect soon.
City hall is finalizing details of how to address instances where employees do not comply with the requirement to be fully vaccinated without legitimate grounds for accommodation under the B.C. Human Rights Code.
Elected officials are not subject to the vaccination policy as it applies only to staff. However, all members of Victoria council have confirmed they are fully vaccinated.
