Region to implement vaccine policy, urge businesses to do the same

By Rob Paul

The Region of Peel is establishing an employee vaccination policy and Peel Public Health is strongly recommending businesses include employee vaccination policies in their COVID-19 workplace safety plan.

Peel will require all Regional employees to disclose and provide documentation of their COVID-19 vaccination status. The Employee Vaccination policy is expected to be in effect by the end of October.

Employees who are not fully vaccinated will be required to complete educational programming about the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccination. They will also need to provide regular negative COVID tests.

“Thanks to the commitment and vigilance of our staff, we have been able to maintain most of our services throughout the pandemic,” said Janice Baker, Region of Peel CAO. “This policy is meant to encourage our staff to get vaccinated to help our community find a path back to normal.”

As for businesses in Peel Region, as part of the COVID-19 workplace safety plans that are required under the Reopening Ontario Act, the Region is asking employers to follow suit on vaccination policies.

Businesses are being asked to consider the promotion of COVID-19 vaccinations to workers, outline actions for unvaccinated workers, as necessary, and speak to identifying workers' vaccination status for outbreak prevention and control.

“Vaccination is currently our best defense against severe illness or death from COVID-19 and may also support short and long-term business continuity, and a safer workplace environment,” Dr. Lawrence Loh, Medical Officer of Health for Peel. “It's important that employers help to protect their employees as best as possible and encouraging vaccination is one of the best ways to do that.”

As the Region focuses on vaccine policies, there continues to be a rise in weekly cases. The total COVID-19 cases for Peel currently sits at 114,035—716 more since last week—and 956 deaths with 34 over the last week.

In Caledon, the total case count is at 4,640 with 54 new cases since last week and no additional deaths—the Town has seen 22.

Vaccination efforts continue in the Region with 2,309,939 doses administered—27,914 in the last seven-day cycle (August 23 to 29). As of August 30, 1,251,758 individuals in Peel had at least one dose of the vaccine and 1,058,181 had completed the vaccination process.

Total vaccine coverage in the Region is at 64.8 per cent with 72.6 per cent having at least one-dose coverage. The number of Peel residents 12 and older that have at least one dose is 83.3 per cent with 74.4 per cent completely vaccinated—83.6 per cent of those 18 and older have single dose coverage and 75 per cent are fully vaccinated.

To book a vaccination in the Region of Peel, visit www.peelregion.ca/coronavirus/vaccine/book-appointment.