The Canadian Bazaar
TORONTO: Toronto has made two COVID vaccine doses mandatory for city staff.
All staff must get two dozes by October 30.
Announcing this on Thursday morning, Toronto mayor John Tory said, “Our end goal is to encourage and persuade people to get vaccinated, if they haven’t already, so our City workplaces – which includes many public places – are as safe as possible for them and for the people we serve. I encourage all of our employees who aren’t vaccinated and who are eligible to be vaccinated, not to wait. Please do the right thing now and get vaccinated.”
As per this new policy, all city staff must provide proof of vaccination status by September 13. Staff who have not been vaccinated or who do not disclose their vaccination status by September 13 will be required to attend mandatory education on the benefits of vaccination. These unvaccinated individuals will then need to provide proof of first dose no later than September 30.
As of October 30, all city staff will be required to have received their first and second doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. The City will comply with its human rights obligations and accommodate employees who are legally entitled to accommodation, said a statement from the mayor’s office.
Toronto Public Heath recently reported that since May 1, those who are unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated make up 98.7 per cent of hospitalized COVID-19 cases.
“This is about ensuring the City of Toronto – your municipal government funded with your tax dollars – is doing everything it can to encourage vaccination and protect our workers. It will help better protect you, your coworkers, and your loved ones,” Mayor Tory said.
