On September 21, 2021, Haldimand County Council approved a COVID-19 vaccination policy for municipal employees and volunteers.

The policy applies to all representatives of Haldimand County including all existing staff, elected officials board/committee appointees, volunteers, volunteer firefighters, the Haldimand County Library Board and its staff and volunteers.

Grandview Lodge staff and Paramedics are covered by separate policies, introduced earlier this year, as mandated by the Ontario Ministry of Health. Council amended these policies at the September 21 meeting to require mandatory vaccination for all staff in these high risk settings by November 17.

The new policy aims to fulfill the county’s commitment of providing a safe working environment and has been implemented to protect the county’s workforce and members of the public from the hazards of COVID-19.

The policy is in alignment with provincial directives and subject to limited exceptions in accordance with the Human Rights Code (Ontario), consistent with public health policy.

Existing county representatives will be required to disclose their vaccination status by no later than Monday, October 18, 2021. New employees, or employees entering into a new employment contract internally (i.e. transferring positions) must be fully vaccinated or produce an eligible exemption, as a condition of the new employment agreement.

As of Tuesday, October 19, 2021, employees who indicate they are “not fully vaccinated” or “medically exempted” must participate in regular rapid antigen testing until such time as they are considered fully immunized.

For additional details, please refer to the COVID-19 Vaccination Policy (No. 2021-02).