The vast majority of B.C.’s 38,240 public servants are fully vaccinated, according to a media release form the provincial government.
Just over one per cent, or 432 people, of the BC Public Service are unvaccinated or declined to disclose their status, the province said. These employees will be placed on unpaid leave for three months and if they do not provide proof of full vaccination after that period risk termination, according to the release.
Another 439 public servants (1.15 per cent) are partially vaccinated and must receive their second dose within 35 days from their first shot or they will be placed on unpaid leave.
There are also 274 employees (0.72 per cent) who have requested an exemption based on a medical condition or other protected grounds — the province said the requests will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
The BC Public Service’s proof of vaccination policy came into effect on Nov. 22.
The policy applies to all employees working for the BC Public Service regardless of whether they work on-site or remotely. This also includes employees of any board, commission, agency, or organization to which the Public Service Act applies or whose employees are hired in accordance with the Public Service Act, the release said.
Agencies, boards and commissions were not required to report their data to the BC Public Service Agency.
Updated BC Public Service Occupational Safety and Health standards will also require contractors and others accessing employee-only areas of indoor public service workplaces to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 13. This rule does not apply to members of the public accessing government services.
