British Columbia will be requiring proof of vaccination for people attending certain social and recreational settings and events. As of September 13, one dose of vaccine will be required for entry to various public settings.
Join Premier John Horgan, Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, for an update on COVID-19 vaccinations in British Columbia. https://t.co/T6Wp7EHGCh
— BC Government News (@BCGovNews) August 23, 2021
Over 83 per cent of those who are eligible for a vaccine have received one dose and nearly 75 per cent have been fully vaccinated, suggesting the majority of residents support proof of vaccination, he said.
The government has been working with the privacy commissioner to ensure data on the B.C. Vaccine Card, which can be downloaded onto phones, is kept secure, the premier said.
Here is a full list of where vaccine will be required: -Indoor ticketed sporting events -Indoor concerts -Indoor theatre/dance/symphony events -Restaurants (indoor and patio dining) -Night clubs -Casinos -Movie theatres. Fitness centres/gyms (excluding youth recreational sport) -Businesses offering indoor high-intensity group exercise activities -Organized indoor events (eg. weddings, parties, conferences, meetings, workshops)."Over the past month, up until the end of last week, people who've not been fully vaccinated account for almost 90 per cent of all of our cases and over 93 per cent of hospitalizations," Dr. Henry said.
"To put it in context, we have a rate of 28 per 100,000 cases in people who are unvaccinated, compared to two per 100,000 for people who are fully vaccinated. What that tells us is that your risk is 10 times higher if you've not been protected through vaccine."
Businesses will be required to look for proof of vaccination at least until January, but that may change depending on the number of cases as people spend more time at indoor social settings during the respiratory season, Henry said.
Provisions for those without a phone include access to a call centre, but further details will be provided after the Labour Day weekend and there will be a process for fully vaccinated visitors from outside the province to access the same services.
Both Horgan and Henry had previously suggested proof of vaccination would not be required, but that was before the seven-day moving average of COVID-19 cases jumped to 557 last week, up from 36 in early July.
Stephen Hoption Cann, an epidemiologist at the University of British Columbia's school of population and public health, said the proof of vaccination requirement was only a matter of time in keeping up with other jurisdictions trying to kick-start their economies.
"I think we're realizing that we can only go on so long economically before we run into a huge amount of debt," he said.
However, he said it makes sense to also require health-care workers in all settings to be vaccinated, after B.C. made it mandatory for those employed in long-term care and assisted living facilities to have both doses by Oct. 12.
Health Minister Adrian Dix said the province is looking at mandatory vaccination in other areas in health care.
The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade welcomed the announcement of the vaccine card, saying it provides clarity for businesses making decisions around protecting the health and safety of staff and customers as many establishments struggle to manage labour and supply shortages.
“It’s imperative that the provincial government works closely with business owners to ensure a seamless transition to the B.C. Vaccine Card, one that protects front-line staff, ensures the technology is widely accessible and available, and is compatible with similar efforts across the country.”
Proof of vaccination will also be required for people visiting from outside of B.C. using a provincially/territorially recognized official record alongside valid government ID from the jurisdiction.
