Workers who staff Port Coquitlam city hall, city recreation facilities, fire halls and even volunteers will have to show vaccination status against COVID-19 by Feb. 15, and be fully vaccinated by May 1.
Only those with an 'approved exemption' won't need to be fully vaccinated, according to a new administrative policy approved Tuesday (Feb. 1).
The policy affects as many as 600 full-time, part-time and casual employees, including firefighters, some of whom were hit by Omicron earlier this year.
Workers who are not fully vaccinated by May 1 will have to go on unpaid leave.
Volunteers have to show vaccination status as well.
It is not known how many workers are not vaccinated, but Tri-City rates have hovered at the 90 per cent mark for some time.
The Tri-Cities maintains 93 per cent first- and 91 per cent second-dose vaccination averages against COVID-19, according to figures from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), while recorded infection numbers have been dropping.
A spokesperson for the city said vaccination continues to be the "best tool in the fight against the virus," and while other cities, including Vancouver, approved a vaccine mandate late last year as Omicron surged, the policy is not too late to be effective.
"The city has been in consultation with its unions for the past couple of months and has been closely watching other organizations who have already adopted vaccine policies to inform its policy," stated human resources director Steve Traviss in an email.
"By adopting the policy now, we have the advantage of the learnings of others who adopted a vaccine policy before us," Traviss further stated.
Meanwhile, the same day as the policy was approved for city workers, councillors agreed to show proof of vaccination status to the city.
However, the resolution doesn't require councillors to be vaccinated to perform their duties.
Mayor Brad West said the Community Charter has no provision to "impel" councillors to be vaccinated.
However, he said providing vaccine status to the city shows "leadership" and is an acknowledgement of the requirement of the provincial health officer in certain situations affecting the public, as well as PoCo city halls' policy for staff.
Coun. Steve Darling noted that it's more of a "ceremonial" policy, adding: "The thing is. Nothing is going to happen to you, the COVID police aren’t coming to your door. It shows support for the vaccination policy for city workers.
"We are requiring that of city employees, and, as people that are on the same team, we would do the same thing as well."
Coun. Laura Dupont asked that the resolution specify that it applies to proof of COVID-19 vaccination and the duration last until provincial health orders for proof of vaccination are rescinded.
Councillors agreed to both of those requests before approving the resolution.
B.C.'s proof of vaccination requirement for some activities was recently extended to June 3.
The councillors' vaccination will be kept on file with the city, Traviss further stated.
"Human Resources will maintain these records when they are provided by Mayor and Council."
- with a file from Kyle Balzer, Tri-City News
