The
Health Professionals COVID-19 Vaccination Status Information and Preventive Measures Order requires BCCNM to collect and retain the COVID-19 vaccination status of all its registrants. Under the Order, registrants are required to provide proof of vaccination status or proof of an exemption to BCCNM upon request.
June 10 order: Summary of changes
The current order was published on June 10, 2022 and repeals and replaces the Health Professionals COVID-19 Vaccination Status and Preventive Measures Order made on March 7, 2022. This order requires BCCNM to:
Provide information about the vaccination status of a registrant to a post-secondary institution or to the University of British Columbia upon request.
Provide to the Provincial Health Officer, on request,
aggregate information respecting vaccination status of its registrants for the purpose of preventing or responding to exposures or clusters or outbreaks
Provide information to the PHO or medical health officer about the vaccination status of a registrant and where that registrant works, or aggregate information about the location of all places where registrants work and the vaccination status of registrants who work in each of those places.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the Order require registrants to be vaccinated against COVID-19?
- No. This Order requires BCCNM to record the COVID-19 vaccination status of all registrants, but it does not impose a COVID-19 vaccination requirement.
However, separate public health orders remain in place requiring COVID-19 vaccination for health professionals working in residential care, acute care and community care settings. - Which health professionals are covered by this Order?
- The Order applies to all B.C. regulated health professionals across all registrant classes, including practising and non-practising licensed practical nurses, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, registered midwives, and registered psychiatric nurses.
- Does the Order apply to BCCNM registrants who provide only telehealth/virtual care?
- Yes. BCCNM is required to record the COVID-19 vaccination status of all registrants.
- Which COVID-19 vaccines are accepted for proof of vaccination?
- Any COVID-19 vaccine that is authorized for use by Health Canada is acceptable for complying with the Order. As of June 10, 2022, six vaccines have been approved for use by Health Canada, five of which are available in BC, including a single-dose vaccine. The BC Centre for Disease Control provides information on the different vaccines currently approved in Canada: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine/vaccines-for-covid-19
- If you would prefer to get a non-mRNA vaccine, you can request the Novavax vaccine. To get the Novavax vaccine, Register with the Get Vaccinated system, then call 1-833-838-2323 to be put on the non-mRNA waiting list. Your local health authority will contact you to book an appointment. For more information, visit: http://www.gov.bc.ca/gov/covid-19/vaccine/register.
- I have been asked to provide proof of vaccination or exemption by the college, but I have already provided this information to my employer. Do I need to do it again?
- Yes.
- What will BCCNM accept as a valid exemption to vaccination?
- A valid exemption must be one issued by the Office of the Provincial Health Officer (PHO).
- Under what authority can the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) issue public health orders?
- The PHO has the legal authority to issue emergency preventive measures orders under the Public Health Act. Under the Act, all individuals and organizations are required to comply with the requirements set by the PHO.
- As a registrant, what action do I need to take to confirm my vaccination status?
- You do not need to provide any information about your vaccination status unless we contact you. Under the order, a registrant must provide information about your vaccination status – such as proof of vaccination or proof of medical exemption from the Provincial Health Officer – at the college’s request.
- How will my vaccination information be used?
- The Order requires the college to collect and retain the vaccination status of its registrants. On request, the college must disclose to the PHO or medical health officer registrant information regarding vaccination status and place of work, either on an aggregate or individual basis.
- What should I do if my vaccination status changes?
- Please provide your updated vaccination status to BCCNM by emailing your proof of vaccination or exemption to COVIDvaccination@bccnm.ca.
- I am partially vaccinated. How will my vaccination status be recorded?
- Registrants who are partially vaccinated will be recorded as “Unvaccinated and without exemption”.
- Under the Order, the term “vaccinated” means:
- “...to have received, at least 7 days previously, all doses of a vaccine or a combination of vaccines, but not including a booster dose, as recommended by
- the provincial health officer, with respect to vaccines approved for use in Canada by the department of the federal government responsible for regulating drugs, or
- the World Health Organization, with respect to vaccines approved by the World Health Organization but not approved for use in Canada....”
A person who does not have “all doses” of a vaccine is “unvaccinated". - Under the Order, the term “unvaccinated” means:
-
that a person does not meet the definition of “vaccinated”
- Will my vaccination status be publicly available?
- This is not a requirement of the June 10, 2022 PHO Order.
- What if I was vaccinated outside of Canada?
If you were vaccinated outside of Canada, and are asked to provide proof of your vaccination status, you must provide proof in English, French, or a certified translation into English or French, whether electronic or in writing, which:
- Issued by a government or government body or by an organization that administered the vaccine for the purpose of showing proof of vaccination
- Is in the form of an official certificate, pass, card, receipt or confirmation showing the number of doses of vaccine received
- Is not just a QR code
- Includes in text:
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| | - Your name
- The name of the government or government body or organization that administered the vaccine
- The brand name or any other information that identifies the vaccine
- The date the vaccine was administered
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- I have questions/concerns about the Order and/or its requirements. Who can I contact?
The Provincial Health Officer issues orders and colleges are legally required to comply with their requirements.
For registrants with questions/concerns about the order, please contact:
Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer
4th Floor, 1515 Blanshard Street
P.O. Box 9648 STN PROV GOVT, Victoria BC, V8W 9P4
Fax: 250.952.1570
Email: ProvHlthOffice@gov.bc.ca
For members of the public with questions/concerns about this order, please contact:
Ministry of Health Patient and Client Relations
Victoria: 250.952.1891
Toll-free in British Columbia: 1.833.552.1891
Email: HLTH.Health@gov.bc.ca
Current PHO orders: Vaccine requirements
BCCNM announcements