Public servants have to be vaccinated by Dec. 17, says N.L. government
CBC
Public servants in Newfoundland and Labrador will have until Dec. 17 to be vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the provincial government.
The provincial government announced the mandate Friday at a media briefing detailing how it will handle vaccination status as workers transition from working at home to returning to the workplace.
The policy will apply to all provincial government departments, including agencies, boards and commissions. It also applies to employees who serve vulnerable populations, including long-term and personal-care homes, schools and child-care providers, and employees of businesses where the NLVaxPass app is required.
"It's another tool to help people feel safe," Premier Andrew Furey said Friday, adding the decision to mandate vaccinations was not made lightly. "Being fully vaccinated protects not just an individual; it protects all of us."
Furey said the policy also applies to school teachers. He said there is room for accommodation but co-operation is expected, and refusing to comply with the policy could result in an absence without pay. He would not say whether someone could be terminated for declining to be vaccinated.
He added accommodations can also likely be made for people who can do their job from home or another location outside a core government office, and that more on penalties and enforcement is expected to be available in the next week.
The ruling also applies to health-care workers. Deputy Premier Siobhan Coady said it's the province's job to make sure people are protected.
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