Calgary,
03
September
2021
|
13:28
America/Denver

City enacts COVID-19 vaccination policy

With the health and safety of employees and the public as the top priority, The City of Calgary will require City staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19. 

The recent sharp increase in cases and hospitalizations have highlighted the continued health threat of the virus. There is ample scientific proof that vaccinations are the most effective way to minimize the spread and protect City staff from acquiring - or spreading - the COVID-19 virus.  

“As the second largest employer in Calgary, The City has a duty to ensure that our workplaces are safe for both employees and citizens accessing City services, while also modeling for Calgarians the role every individual plays in ensuring the safety of others,” said City Manager David Duckworth.  

“We must take this leadership role at this critical time to do our part to mitigate the impacts of COVID on our staff, our operations and the citizens who depend on us every day. It’s simply the right thing to do.” 

Any City employee who is unable to be immunized due to a medical reason or for other protected grounds under the Alberta Human Rights Act, will be reasonably accommodated. Those employees who require accommodation must undergo mandatory COVID-19 rapid testing and must receive a negative result before they are permitted to fulfill their duties in City workspaces. Failure to comply with the policy may result in discipline up to and including dismissal. 

Key dates for the new policy are as follows:  

  • Sept. 13 – City employees will be required to disclose and provide proof of their vaccination status or grounds for exemption. Unvaccinated staff without an exemption will have to have their first dose by this date.  

  • Oct. 18 – It will be mandatory for all employees to have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccination.  

  • Oct. 31 – All City employees without a valid exemption will be considered fully immunized.  

 

Operational details of this policy, including the vaccination disclosure process and exemption considerations, are in the process of being finalized.  

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