COVID-19 vaccination requirement remains for health care workers

Health care workers in British Columbia will continue to need to be protected from COVID-19 in order to work.

The provincial government is keeping the requirement for health care workers to have received a primary COVID-19 vaccine series (first two shots) in place.

That includes all workers in the health-care system, including hospital, community and residential care workers.

Exceptions will be made for those who have received an exemption from the provincial health officer.

The scope of the order has not changed and continues to apply to people working for health authorities, agencies funded by health authorities and long-term care and assisted-living facilities.

The order does not apply to regulated health professionals not working in those settings, such as dentists, opticians and naturopathic doctors.

The vaccination requirement order was updated on September 12 to align with the updated Health Professionals COVID-19 Vaccination Status Information Order that was issued March 7, 2022 and updated June 10 of this year.

The update to the order comes as COVID-19 immunization figures have plateaued in B.C. and ahead of the fall and winter that is expected to see an increase in cases across the province.