Appeal for more time as Quebec holds firm on mandatory vaccination for health workers
CBC
Quebec is sticking to its mid-October deadline to have all health-care workers in the province vaccinated, Health Minister Christian Dubé said Friday, but some are suggesting more time is needed before the rule comes into effect.
Dubé told reporters he's confident managers in the health network will be able to come up with a contingency plan and reorganize services in the event many staff remain unvaccinated and are unable to work.
He said a month remains and urged employees to get their vaccines.
"We're in a crisis situation, we're taking measures that are temporary, we're reorganizing [services], it's temporary, but the most important thing is coming up with a solution for personnel and that's what we're committed to doing in the coming days," he said.
Ahead of an Oct. 15 deadline for health-care workers to be fully vaccinated or risk suspension, about 20,000 workers — including 10,000 who work with patients — still haven't had their two shots.
As of Sept. 14, the province's public health institute says, 93.4 per cent of health workers had received a first dose and 89.5 per cent were adequately vaccinated.
But some say more time is needed, especially since the provincial government hasn't published the decree outlining the details of the health measure and what exemptions might exist.
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