updated Nov. 15, 2021, to reflect revised order dates
This order goes into effect Oct. 26
The provincial health officer (PHO) has posted the order Hospital and Community (Health Care and Other Services) COVID-19 Vaccination Status Information and Preventative Measures — November 9, 2021. This new order requires regulated health professionals who are employed, contracted or funded to provide health care services by provincially funded organizations, including health authorities and provincial mental health facilities, to be vaccinated against COVID-19. To comply with this order, individuals must be fully vaccinated or have started on the series of vaccinations against COVID-19 to continue providing care to patients or clients from Oct. 26, 2021. Individuals who have received only one dose of vaccine by the deadline will need to comply with additional COVID-19 preventive measures specified in the order. The order goes into effect Oct. 26. Please
read the order for details (PDF).
The order also gives formal notice to other regulated health professionals—categories still to be determined by the PHO—that they can expect to receive a similar order stating mandatory vaccination will also apply to their practice if they are providing health care or services. This will include some individuals in private practice.
The PHO also recently posted a new order Residential Care COVID-19 Prevention Measures—October 21, 2021 related to health care workers in long term care and assisted living, which has updates on the order for mandatory vaccination originally posted in early September.
BCCNM's position on PHO orders and vaccination
We recognize the vast majority of registrants are taking the responsibility to help eliminate COVID-19 in our communities by getting vaccinated themselves and diligently following COVID-19 prevention practices at work. We ask all registrants to review and follow the provincial health officer's orders related to mandatory vaccination for health care workers.
We encourage all registrants and every eligible British Columbian to get vaccinated. Vaccination is the best way to protect our patients/clients from harm. When you get vaccinated, you are not only protecting yourself against COVID-19, but also everyone around you.
If the order applies to you
If these new PHO orders apply to you, you will receive more information from your employer or contract client/administrator.
If the order does not apply to you
Remember the actions you can take to protect yourself, your patients/clients and your colleagues, including:
Getting vaccinated
Continuing to follow infection prevention and control guidelines provided by the BC Centre for Disease Control
Always responding to patient/client questions and concerns about COVID-19 immunization or related health issues in line with:
You can also consider sharing your vaccination status with your patients/clients so they are fully aware to make informed choices about seeking care within your clinical environment.
Requests for reconsideration (exemption)
There are few exemptions to this order. The province has developed Guidelines for
Request for Reconsideration (Exemption) (PDF) and a
form (PDF) for nurse practitioners and physicians to complete.
NPs who validate contraindication and deferrals
NPs may get requests from patients for medical notes to be exempted from receiving a vaccine. BCCNM's Sept. 16 announcement on valid contraindications and deferrals to COVID-19 vaccination offers guidance on how to determine the validity of such requests.
Questions?
We will provide additional information as it becomes available but if you have a question, please email us at practice@bccnm.ca.