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City of Red Deer’s staff vaccination mandate is being reviewed, says mayor

Interim city manager says more should be known by next week
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The City of Red Deer’s policy currently requires all city staff and councillors to either show proof of vaccinations, or a negative COVID rapid antigen test result, when on city property or out on city business. (Advocate file photo.)

The City of Red Deer’s staff vaccination policy is under review after Alberta Health Services announced it’s lifting its own vaccination mandate for health workers.

“Our interim city manager will be reviewing that from a staff perspective,” said Mayor Ken Johnston on Wednesday.

If a decision is made by city administrators to remove the city’s vaccination mandate for City of Red Deer employees, then council will discuss doing the same for councillors, since the idea is to have the same expectations for staff and council, Johnston added.

“The intent is to follow the same health protocols that our city employees are following.”

The City of Red Deer’s policy currently requires all city staff and councillors to either show proof of vaccinations, or a negative COVID rapid antigen test result, when on city property or out on city business.

Regarding whether the city’s staff vaccination mandate will be repealed following the AHS decision, interim city manager Tara Lodewyk said through an email that she doesn’t have this information yet. But she said she should know more by next week and will reveal the decision once municipal staff are informed.

“The City of Red Deer’s immunization policy remains in effect at this time,” stated Lodewyk in the email. “As part of our phased return to work plan, we will be reviewing this policy and will communicate any changes directly with employees.”

The vaccination policy for staff took effect on Nov. 28. At the time, Lodewyk disclosed to council that all but a handful of city staffers had complied with the mandate, with 89 per cent of workers getting double vaccinated and 10 per cent opting to pay out of their own pockets for antigen testing.

In mid-January, city councillors unanimously approved the same kind of mandate for members of council.

Alberta Health Services announced on Tuesday it will no longer require proof of COVID-19 vaccination, or regular rapid testing, of its health care workers effective Thursday, March 10. at 4 p.m.

Health Minister Jason Copping stated the province needs all health workers back on the job. Alberta already has 97.7 per cent of AHS employees and 99.8 per cent of physicians fully vaccinated.

Johnston said the vaccination policy is not on Monday’s council meeting agenda.



lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com

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