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AMA calling for mandatory vaccines for health-care workers

EDMONTON ─ The Alberta Medical Association is calling for mandatory vaccinations for frontline health-care workers in the province.

The group says it’s been a strong supporter of COVID-19 health measures since the pandemic began, and now with a fourth wave washing over the country and variants circulating, vaccines are essential for its members.

“[Mandatory vaccines] will help protect our patients, staff, and colleagues. We are joined in this approach with groups such as the Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Nurses Association, Ontario Medical Association, New Brunswick Medical Society, Doctors Nova Scotia, and Doctors Manitoba,” reads a letter from AMA President Paul Boucher.

Boucher says while many COVID-19 measures, including vaccines, have been polarizing topics, he and the rest of AMA’s board of directors believe it is important to encourage people to get vaccinated and call for a provincial mandate for all health-care workers.


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Other provinces have instituted vaccine rules for frontline workers.

On Tuesday, Manitoba joined Ontario, Quebec, and B.C. in requiring vaccines for people working in the health-care industry, although some specifics vary from province to province.

B.C. has mandated those working in long-term care homes or assisted living facilities be double vaccinated against COVID-19.


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Employers in health and education in Ontario will need to have policies that ask staff to disclose their vaccination status, with proof of full vaccination or a documented medical exemption. Those who aren’t vaccinated will need to take an education session and be subject to regular tests.

In Quebec, health-care workers who routinely spend more than 15 consecutive minutes with a patient must be vaccinated.

-with files from the Canadian Press, CityNews Vancouver, CityNews Toronto, and CityNews Montreal