Council to consider Vaccination Verification Policy

HAMILTON, ON – As cases have risen in Hamilton, in Ontario, and across the country over the past days and weeks, we’ve been engaged in a conversation about how to best prepare ourselves for a fourth wave of COVID-19. For it’s part, the City of Hamilton is exploring a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination verification policy requiring all City of Hamilton employees to receive both doses of the vaccine.

In order to more quickly advance this important employee health policy, I will be calling a special Council meeting next week where staff will report on a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination verification policy for all City of Hamilton employees for Council’s consideration.

As of August 7th, out of the 17,479 COVID-19 cases reported in Hamilton since December of last year, approximately 95 per cent have been amongst unvaccinated individuals. Public health guidance demonstrates that vaccines provide a high level of protection against COVID-19 and its variants and reduces risk of severe illness and hospitalization As a major employer in the City we have an obligation to undertake all necessary precautions to protect our workforce, their families, and in turn the community as a whole.

Throughout the COVID-19 vaccine rollout the City has continually shared vaccination information and has encouraged all staff to get vaccinated as soon they were eligible and allows employees to go to vaccination appointments during work hours, where operationally feasible. There are many locations in Hamilton for community members born in 2009 and earlier to get their first and second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, such as large-scale clinics, primary care-led clinics, mobile pop-up clinics and local pharmacies. Vaccines can be accessed both on a walk-in basis at many of these locations or by booking an appointment. Information regarding walk-in options, booking an appointment and frequently asked questions are available at www.hamilton.ca/GetYourVaccine.