Medical experts and Alberta NDP say vaccine policy for public servants misses target
CBC
A new vaccination policy for public servants in Alberta is a good start — even if it is both too little and too late, say medical experts and Opposition MLAs.
"This [should] have happened a month ago," said Dr. Ilan Schwartz, an assistant professor of infectious diseases at the University of Alberta.
"It's better than never. But really, what we are begging for is some kind of public health measure that is going to decrease transmissions now."
The new policy, announced by Premier Jason Kenney on Thursday, will require all 25,500 provincial employees to submit proof of full vaccination by Nov. 30.
Employees can be exempted if they obtain an accommodation based on the Alberta Human Rights Act or if they produce a negative PCR test result, obtained at employee's expense, within 72 hours of every scheduled workday.
Some other provinces have already moved in this direction including Saskatchewan, which is also struggling under the fourth wave of COVID-19, said NDP health critic David Shepherd.
"Their mandate comes into effect tomorrow," Shepherd said Thursday. "So once again Jason Kenney and the UCP are sadly acting last and acting least."