B.C. school boards now required to record staff COVID-19 vaccination status, ask for proof
After months of complaints from parents, teachers and school boards in British Columbia, it appears a provincial public health order has been issued to somewhat address staff vaccines.
But the province still isn't mandating vaccines for school staff, or imposing guidelines across B.C.'s education system.
An updated public health order shows the provincial government will require employers to keep records of staff vaccination status, and require proof of vaccination.
A document posted online Monday addresses "boards of education, independent school authorities and francophone education authorities," as well as those employed by those bodies.
It outlines that employees addressed in the document must provide their employer with proof of vaccination when requested, and by the date requested. Additionally, if their vaccination status changes, they must provide information and their vaccine card to their employer "without delay," and their employer must update the school's records.
Furthermore, employers must then report the vaccination status of its staff members, but in a way that won't identify the individuals.
The order goes on to say, "When putting in place measures to prevent, mitigate or respond to the spread of infection in a school," employers are to treat anyone who hasn't provided proof of vaccination as being unvaccinated.
It does not elaborate on what that would mean for those teachers or staff members.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Education told CTV News in an email that the new order is meant to support medical health officers, "as they deem necessary, to better protect school communities… in order to more efficiently manage cases and clusters in schools."
The ministry said some boards have already started these surveys of staff.
Teri Mooring with the BC Teachers’ Federation, which represents 45,000 teachers across the province, told CTV News she had not been consulted or notified about the order.
“It’s really unfortunate that this order was basically communicated through social media as opposed to giving all the educational partners a heads up and a bit of an explanation,” said Mooring.
Mooring added that the BCTF has been asking for a province-wide vaccine mandate for some time. Up until now, the province has left vaccination requirements up to school boards. The Delta School District has so far been the only board to implement such mandates. Mooring says part of that process is gathering information about vaccine status, which is exactly what this order is about.
“What’s not clear, is what happens when vaccine status has been determined? Would the medical health officer then issue a vaccine mandate in certain parts of the province," Mooring said.
“It really poses a lot of questions, in an already highly charged atmosphere. We already have teachers and school staff really concerned about the spread of Omicron."
According to the ministry, the order provides a way for the information to be collected if needed for health and safety reasons. It does not mean staff will be fired if they're unvaccinated, unless their school board imposes a vaccination requirement.
The medical health officer would not be the one issuing such a mandate.
Surrey school teacher Lizanne Foster says the order simply ignores the additional safety measures teachers have been asking for this entire pandemic.
“The biggest concern right now from teachers is how many kids are not wearing masks and how many kids have mask exemptions. The government talks about three-ply masks being provided in schools and we haven’t seen that,”
“In Surrey, 97 per cent of teachers are vaccinated. So this focus on vaccination of teachers in the classroom is really baffling to me,” said Foster.
As for the collection of any further information, those decisions would be made by medical health officers in specific regions of the province, the order says.
It is unclear what additional information could be collected or reported. Medical health officers will also be able to impose limitations or conditions in their designated area, the order signed by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry reads.
The order has no expiry date, and anyone who fails to comply may face "enforcement action" under the Public Health Act.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.