Third Update on Vaccination Mandates

The Province is releasing an update on the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for key sectors and the provincial civil service vaccination directive today, November 24.

Under both, all employees are required to have at least a first dose of vaccine by November 30. Those who are partially vaccinated may be subject to other health and safety measures, including testing. Those who do not have a first dose by November 30 will face employment consequences, including unpaid leave.

“We believe that people who work in these sectors must be vaccinated to protect the people they care for,” said Premier Tim Houston. “Protecting vulnerable Nova Scotians is the most important thing. We will deal with potential impacts to services and staffing levels that may result from people choosing to leave, rather than get a life-saving vaccine. If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, it’s not too late. I encourage you to make the right choice.”

The vaccination rates of employees in the health, education and the long-term care sectors included in the COVID-19 vaccination mandate who have reported are:

• Nova Scotia Health Authority: 95 per cent fully vaccinated (up from 94 per cent on November 16), four per cent partially vaccinated, with 90 per cent reporting (up from 88 per cent)
• IWK Health Centre: 99 per cent (no change), one per cent partially vaccinated, with 99 per cent reporting (no change)
• long-term care: 95 per cent fully vaccinated (up from 93), three per cent partially vaccinated, with 95 per cent reporting (up from 89 per cent)
• home care: 95 per cent fully vaccinated (up from 89), four per cent partially vaccinated, with 97 per cent reporting (up from 78 per cent)
• education: 97 per cent fully vaccinated (no change), two per cent partially vaccinated, with 90 per cent reporting (up from 75 per cent)
• Emergency Health Services (EHS): 99 per cent fully vaccinated (no change), one per cent partially vaccinated, with 92 per cent reporting (up from 88 per cent)

The following sectors are being included in the COVID-19 vaccination mandate update for the first time:

• adult day programs (Seniors and Long-term Care): 94 per cent fully vaccinated, no employees partially vaccinated, with 97 per cent reporting
• correctional services: 99 per cent fully vaccinated, one per cent partially vaccinated, with 68 per cent reporting
• Community Services (Disability Support Program and Child and Youth Caring Program): 93 per cent fully vaccinated, seven per cent partially vaccinated, with 96 per cent reporting
• daycares: 93 per cent full vaccinated, five per cent partially vaccinated, with 84 per cent of facilities reporting
• Hearing and Speech NS: 99 per cent fully vaccinated, no employees partially vaccinated, with 95 per cent reporting.

Under the provincial civil service vaccination directive, all direct employees of the provincial government are required to be vaccinated. The vaccination rates among government employees who have reported their status are 97 per cent fully vaccinated, two per cent partially vaccinated, with 93 per cent reporting.

Vaccination rates are as of November 23; percentages have been rounded.

Data collection continues and final numbers will be released in early December.

Quick Facts:

• under the COVID-19 vaccination mandate employees are required to have at least a first dose of vaccine by November 30, with a requirement to show proof of full vaccination up to 70 days after their first dose; those who are partially vaccinated may be subjected to other health and safety measures, including testing; those who do not have a first dose by November 30 will be placed on unpaid leave
• under the provincial civil service vaccination directive, employees must have at first dose of the vaccine by November 30 with a requirement to show proof of full vaccination up to 56 days after their first dose; those who do not have a first dose by November 30 will face employment consequences up to and including unpaid leave
• about 81 per cent of Nova Scotians are fully vaccinated

Additional Resources:

Information on COVID-19 vaccination and how to get vaccinated: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/vaccine/

More information on the COVID-19 vaccination mandate: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20211105004

More information on the provincial civil service vaccination mandate: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20211006005