Less than three weeks from now, residents of British Columbia 12 and older will be required to provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccination in order to attend certain public events and places, such as sports games, restaurants, fitness centres, casinos and indoor conferences. According to the mandate, proof of one dose is required to attend these spaces as of Sept. 13, while proof of two doses will be required as of Oct. 24.
A B.C. government news release states a weblink will be provided before Sept. 13, through which people will be able to confidentially access their proof of vaccination. Individuals will be able to save a copy of their proof to their phone, which they can show when entering or using designated businesses and events. Those who cannot access their proof of vaccination online, meanwhile, will be provided with an alternative option.
B.C. is not the first province to announce an impending vaccine “passport” – Quebec was the first, and its version is set to come into effect on Sept. 1.
While various institutions have announced mandatory vaccine policies in Alberta – including the sporting organization that oversees the Calgary Flames and Calgary Stampeders – no such mandate has been made by the provincial government, as of press time. In fact, Premier Jason Kenney has gone in the other direction, suggesting back in July that such documents would possibly violate the Health Information Act.
But even though Kenney has voiced opposition to the idea of mandating proof of vaccination, our newsroom wouldn’t find it surprising if he eventually changes his tone, given Alberta’s abrupt and alarming rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the last month. As of press time, Alberta was reporting 258 hospitalized COVID-19 patients and 57 ICU admissions – a two-month high.
As cases continue to rise once school starts up next month, some type of mandatory vaccination policy could become the next tool in the government's belt when it comes to stemming this fourth wave.
