March 31 2021 Hello,
Thank you all for your inquiries, and your patience as we address your industry-specific concerns. We have engaged with the Ministry of Health, the COVID-19 Workplace Task Group and public health about our status as essential workers.
Currently the list of Front-line priority workers doesn’t include our industry, but we are making the case that In Canada our industry has been designated as an essential service. The SPMABC and CPMA is working to ensure we also fall under the category of essential workers when it comes to vaccine rollouts. With that said, we are NOT attempting to jump the line ahead of health care workers, police, fire, etc. We believe that we fit in to Phase 2 of the rollouts:
“essential workers who face additional risks to maintain services for the functioning of society” Found here on this site: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/prevention-risks/covid-19-vaccine-treatment/vaccine-rollout.html
Attached is the letter that went out on March 23rd to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) and all Provincial Ministries of Health. A big thanks to Jake from the NPMA on crafting the letter!
Please note: we are not taking a position that it should be mandatory for all people to be vaccinated, we are merely stating that it should be available during phase 2 to those wanting it.
We would encourage you to share this with your technicians/members, and forward this information as you see fit.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us should you have any questions or concerns at this time.
Comments