Nova Scotia Health to lift COVID-19 immunization requirement for employees
Health authority spokesperson says requirement to submit proof of vaccinations ends Feb. 26
Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health are set to lift a requirement for employees, new hires and on-site medical staff to submit proof of primary series COVID-19 immunization on Monday.
In an email to CBC News on Wednesday night, a spokesperson for Nova Scotia Health said the decision was made "in response to evolving evidence regarding COVID-19, Omicron sub-variants, protection from vaccine and a review of vaccination policies across other jurisdictions."
NSH confirmed the change in policy after a letter to an employee was posted on social media earlier in the day. The letter advises the employee, on unpaid leave for not meeting the COVID-19 immunization requirements, they could return to work as of Monday.
Brian Comer, the minister of Mental Health and Addictions, told reporters Thursday he has "full faith" in the decision made by the health authorities.
"They're the experts in infection control and communicable disease," said Comer, speaking on behalf on the Health minister.
The letter to the healthcare worker goes on to direct the employee to notify their manager of their intent to return or resign by March 15.
"They do not have to come back by then, they just need to contact their manager by this date to confirm their intentions," said spokesperson Lisa MacSween in an email.
"If there is no contact we will assume they are resigning their positions. Of course, each case will be assessed on a case by case basis."
The province had introduced mandatory vaccinations against COVID-19 for the health sector in November 2021. At the time, any health-care workers who hadn't received at least one COVID-19 vaccine by Nov. 30 risked employment consequences like being placed on unpaid leave.
When the mandatory vaccination policy came into effect, 323 Nova Scotia Health employees and 29 IWK employees were forced off the job.
Two years on, there remain about 100 employees of Nova Scotia Health and fewer than five IWK employees affected by the updated policy.
With files from Portia Clark and Taryn Grant