Kelowna to require city staff to be fully vaxed

• Staff need two doses by Dec. 13
• Not yet known what will happen to staff not vaxed

All City of Kelowna staff will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 13.

The move comes after consultation with Interior Health and staff to protect workers and the public against COVID-19 transmission, according to a media release.

Kelowna joins several other cities across Canada, such as Kamloops, Calgary, Toronto, and Vancouver, with vaccine requirements as a condition of employment.

While the decision was made by city administration, Mayor Colin Basran said he and council support the move “as another way we can limit the transmission of the virus among staff and the public.”

COVID-19 cases in the Central Okanagan have decreased from their peak in August, but area hospitals continue to be flooded with patients.

City staff with a certified medical condition, religious or other protected human rights ground for not being vaccinated may be eligible for accommodation, according to the release.

It is not yet known what will happen with staff who do not get the jab by Dec. 13.