(Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

COVID-19 precautions

Town approves new COVID-19 vaccination policy

Oct 20, 2021 | 6:35 PM

Town of Battleford council approved administration’s recommendation for a proposed COVID-19 vaccination policy, as per regulations, as presented at this week’s meeting.

The policy applies to council, staff, volunteers, eligible students, contractors and consultants acting on behalf of the Town of Battleford, as well as for those who sit on the various boards with the town.

CAO Ash Alam presented the details of the policy.

The purpose of the policy is to reduce the risk of COVID-19 in the workplace and provide a safe environment for employees and the public.

“Implementing the COVID-19 vaccination policy is another tool to help prevent the spread and the severity of COVID-19 and the Delta variant in the workplace and the community,” the policy states. “The Town of Battleford as an employer has an obligation under the Occupational Health And Safety Act to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of its workers.”

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Alam said the policy was written according to the related Saskatchewan Health Authority policy, human rights regulations, and also the Saskatchewan Ministry Of Labour Relations And Workplace Safety regulations.

Individuals will need to provide the town with proof of vaccination; or a written description of medical reason(s), the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code reason(s), or the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms reason(s), with supporting documentation, for not being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and take regular Antigen testing and disclose the test results to the town.

Proof of all required vaccination doses must be provided as soon as possible, but no later than Nov. 30.

Or, if the individual has only received the first dose of a two-dose vaccination series, they must provide proof the first dose was administered no later than Nov. 20, and provide proof of administration of the second dose as soon as possible but no later than Dec. 20.

“We gave a decent amount of time until the end of November, and also the second doses almost to the end of December in this application,” Alam said.

He added that any individuals who do not wish to get the vaccinations will need to provide the reason for their exemptions.

Mayor Ames Leslie said the policy was needed to help keep everyone safe.

“It would have been nice if everyone made the choice and had gotten the vaccination, as I do believe it should be a voluntary aspect,” he said. “But I think we need to move forward to keep the people in our community and our facilities safe. Thank you, Ash, for putting this together on short notice. I think it looks good.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow