Alberta Health Services (AHS) is pleased to announce 94 per cent of full-time and part-time AHS employees - and 94 per cent of AHS physicians - have submitted proof of having two doses of COVID-19 vaccine. More than 97 per cent of ICU staff are fully immunized.

We are grateful to all who have already submitted their proof of immunization and continue to go above and beyond to keep each other and our patients safe.

We appreciate the pressures our teams face in this fourth wave, especially those on the frontlines, and we want to provide every opportunity for our workers, especially our contracted service and continuing care providers, to submit their proof of immunization.

AHS is extending the deadline for all employees, medical and midwifery staff, students, volunteers and contracted healthcare providers to comply with its mandatory immunization policy until November 30, 2021.

“We stand by the mandatory immunization policy and it will be fully implemented,” said AHS President and CEO, Dr. Verna Yiu. “We are extending the deadline to give all employees more time to submit their proof of vaccination and, if they haven’t yet, to get fully vaccinated. We’re providing more time so our workforce is as safe and robust as it can be.”

The policy applies to all AHS, Alberta Precision Labs, Carewest, CapitalCare and Covenant Health employees, members of the medical and midwifery staffs, students, and volunteers, and other persons acting on their behalf.

It also applies to the approximately 28,000 casuals employed by AHS. Currently 76 per cent of casuals have submitted proof of immunization. With casuals included, the immunization status of the organization is about 90 per cent.

To date, AHS has received just over 1,400 requests for medical or religious exemption, which will be reviewed prior to the deadline.

AHS is also tracking resignations specific to the implementation of the vaccination policy. To date, 61 employees have resigned, including 31 in clinical roles (of which 11 are Registered Nurses).

Information provided by Alberta Health Services