Some AHS workers asking for vaccine exemption: Kenney

CALGARY — The deadline for health care workers to get their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine is approaching, and now the government is saying hundreds have applied for an exemption.

Premier Jason Kenney making that announcement during a Facebook live on Wednesday evening, saying he doesn’t understand why a vaccine mandate for Alberta Health Services employees would be controversial.

WATCH: Premier Jason Kenney hosts a Facebook Live to answer pandemic-related questions

“Why wouldn’t they do that? Why would they say that you have to be vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella, diseases that are overwhelmingly under control? But you don’t need to take a vaccination that has taken 2,900 lives in this province?” Kenney asked.

So far, Kenney says between 600 and 700 AHS workers have applied for a vaccine exemption, which the premier says are being looked at for their validity.

The AHS policy says people may be exempt for medical reasons, or under protected grounds under the Alberta Human Rights Act such as religious reasons.

But human rights lawyers say that will be challenging.

“You would have to show there has been a long-standing history of looking into these issues, and not participating in things they think would violate their beliefs,” said Sarah Coderre, a human rights lawyer at Bow River Law.

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And some doctors are skeptical about the exemptions altogether.

“I don’t think any of those will be supported by evidence,” said Dr. Dan Gregson with the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine.

A shortage of health care workers is being seen in other parts of Canada, like Quebec, which had to extend the vaccination deadline for health care workers after so many refused.

But Gregson says that he doesn’t think these health care workers are going to be coming out of the ICU where they’re needed most.

“I think those health care workers are going to be the ones that .. we can live without people who don’t want to work by the rules would be my hope.”

CityNews reached out to AHS for comment but did not receive a response before this publication.