Ontario’s Prevention Council Chair released the statement below today: In the past 18 months, COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of ensuring the health and safety of people at work. During these challenging times, we have seen – and continue to see an unwavering commitment to workplace health and safety. Thank you for your ongoing leadership.
The Prevention Council (PC) is dedicated to Ontario’s occupational health and safety system and supports rolling out COVID-19 vaccinations to everyone who wants one. Ontario’s three- phase plan prioritizes vaccines for those at greatest risk of severe illness and those who care for them. As vaccine supply is delivered across the province, public health units may have different vaccine administration rates based on local context.
Getting vaccinated is critical to protecting yourself, your family and those who are most vulnerable in your community. Each vaccinated person brings us one step closer to eliminating COVID-19 from our communities. We encourage you, as leaders, to help boost vaccination rates and save lives by engaging with your colleagues and communities on vaccination options and familiarizing yourself with Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccination plan.
Vaccination increases a person’s ability to fight infection if they are exposed to a specific virus. The vaccine activates the body’s natural immune response and readies it to fight the virus. The COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Canada are working well to protect those who receive them. They complement other public health measures such as screening and masking.
We encourage all workplaces to support vaccination, remain vigilant and continue to maintain proper COVID-19 workplace control measures to help protect workers as well as others who enter the workplace.
We commend those of you who have organized COVID-19 vaccination pop-up clinics within your organizations, like EllisDon’s partnership with the Flynn Group of Companies, Modern Niagara and Central Ontario Building Trades. Their recent pop-up clinics were met with great success. These efforts to vaccinate Ontario’s essential workers, employees and their families are helping to keep our communities safe.
Visit the COVID-19 vaccines and workplace health and safety webpage for more information on how COVID-19 vaccines can help protect your workplace.
Thank you for your ongoing support in keeping Ontario workers safe.
Download the official statement from Ontario’s Prevention Council Chair below.