Update on mandatory vaccination for healthcare professionals

Following the notice given to health professionals in October 2021, the Provincial Director of Health is finalizing, in consultation with all health professional colleges, an order that requires all regulated health professionals to be vaccinated against here on March 24, 2022 to work in their occupation in British Columbia.

The purpose of this provincial health worker order is to protect patients from infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus by unvaccinated health care workers, as well as to minimize the number of people hospitalized or who die from the virus. This order will ensure patients have confidence that they are protected in all healthcare settings and will align with existing requirements for healthcare workers working in long-term, acute and community care.

The order provides colleges with the tools they need to gather information about their enrollees’ immunization status and to notify enrollees who have not confirmed their immunization status that they cannot provide health services. Colleges must then follow up and investigate any instances where healthcare professionals continue to provide healthcare services that are not in accordance with the order.

Under the order, regulated healthcare professionals who are vaccinated with one dose before March 24, 2022 can continue to work as long as they receive a second dose 28 to 35 days after their first dose.

Updates will be provided as the consultation on the order is completed. The decree applies to the following health professions:

• acupuncturists
• audiologists
• doctors of chiropractic (chiropractors)
• certified dental assistants
• dental hygienists
• dentists
• dental technicians
• dental therapists
• denturists
• dietitians
• audioprosthetists
• massage therapists
• midwives
• naturopathic physicians (naturopaths)
• Nurse practitioners
• Registered Nurses
• occupational therapists
• opticians
• optometrists
• pharmacists
• pharmacy technicians
• physiotherapists (physiotherapists)
• doctors and surgeons
• podiatric surgeons (podiatrists)
• licensed practical nurses
• registered psychiatric nurses
• psychologists
• speech therapists
• practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

Health care workers who work for health authorities and health authority-funded agencies as well as all long-term care and assisted living workers for the elderly must already be fully vaccinated.