Town working on vaccination policy for staff, council

Niagara regional council is still working out the details for a policy that will make vaccinations mandatory for Niagara Region employees, as well as for regional councillors who want to attend in-person meetings, conduct business on regional property, or participate in official events.

With the arrival of the more contagious Delta variant of COVID-19, the regional policy report says, “ensuring as many individuals as possible receive a vaccination is crucial. Current studies show that unvaccinated individuals are at the greatest risk of both becoming infected and spreading the virus, while also being 29 times more likely to be hospitalized with complications.”

Details still to be finalized include what happens to those who don’t comply.

The regional policy as approved by councillors states medical and human rights exemptions will be recognized and accommodated, but those who are not vaccinated will be required to regularly undergo testing.

The policy does not define “regularly,” nor does it say whether it is the region or the employee who will pay for the testing. 

While regional staff are working on finalizing the details, it is expected that the policy will come into effect by next week, requiring staff compliance by prescribed timelines.

Lord Mayor Betty Disero says the town is working on adapting a similar policy for NOTL municipal staff and councillors.

At Monday night’s committee meeting, she asked that councillors provide CAO Marnie Cluckie with the certificates they received when they got vaccinated.

“We’re not asking staff to do anything we aren’t doing ourselves,” she said.

As leaders of the community, she added, it’s important for councillors to comply.

The municipal policy will come from staff, and will include councillors who wish to attend in-person committee or council meetings, conduct business on municipal property, or participate in official events, similar to the regional policy. All councillors approved the policy.

There was some discussion at the regional meeting regarding approving the policy without the complete details, said Disero, but the majority were in favour of getting a policy in place and then allowing staff to work out the details.

The regional policy as approved by council also called on the provincial and federal governments to create a proof-of-vaccination certificate program. The provincial government has agreed to vaccination certificates, and was expected to announce details of where and how they could be used this week, to take effect 

next week.