Conservative Premiers Called Out For Refusing To Introduce Vaccine Rules For Health Workers

From the Canadian Medical Association (CMA): The CMA issued a press release Thursday stating it is “disappointed” by the decisions of Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Quebec Premier Francois Legault to not require that health care workers get vaccinated against COVID-19.

• The CMA joined the Canadian Nurses Association three months ago in calling for mandatory vaccines for health workers “who have a duty of care towards patients and the public,” the statement from CMA President Dr. Katherine Smart reads.

The statement adds: “On one hand, there is a collective responsibility to protect those in our care and the public from COVID-19. On the other hand, the health system has been neglected for so long that the health, wellness and supply of health workers are at critically low levels.”

• The statement explains that the conservative governments claimed they made the choice of not implementing vaccine mandates over fears that having to fire unvaccinated workers would result in staff shortages, a problem that Dr. Smart said is symptomatic of “ongoing system failure.”

Read the CMA’s full statement here.