Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to end its Covid vaccination policy for employees, including those in long-term care facilities, fire departments, and a variety of other situations.
on Thursday Newfoundland’s health department said in a statement “Given the current epidemiology of the province, a decision has been made not to extend the policy,”.
The move back to normalcy come into effect on June 1, almost 6 months after the vaccine mandate brought in on Dec. 17.
Affected employees include “those working with vulnerable populations within sectors such as personal care homes, assisted living facilities, home care, charitable organizations providing services to persons in need, private health clinics, private schools, post-secondary institutions, fire departments, ambulance providers, businesses employing regulated health professionals, organizations providing child care services, and organizations providing therapeutic, supportive and residential services to children, youth and families.”
After the province’s public-sector vaccine mandate went into effect, 32 employees were forced to take unpaid leave, according to Newfoundland’s finance minister. A representative for the Treasury Board Secretariat said that everyone will be able to return to work at the beginning of next month.
This decision comes from Premier Andrew Furey saying he would put the policy under review in six months from after it came in to effect.
The province also said, however, that it “will continue to monitor the epidemiology of the province and, as with any public health measure, these may be reinstated at any time deemed necessary in the future.”
While the provincial workers in some provinces have enjoyed the mandatory vaccine policy dropped, British Columbia’s provincial employees, contractors, sub contractors and volunteers are still being medically ruled by Dr. Bonnie Henry.
However there is multiple court challenges currently happening in the BC Supreme Court about vaccine passports and mandatory vaccination policies. The challenges are from provincial employees effected by the mandates and medically exempt people.
There have been multiple Covid-19 disobedience fines being fought in court and about 24 wins for the public amounting to tens of thousands of dollars..
