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Employers Now Required to Follow Advice of Chief Medical Officer of Health on Vaccination Policies
Date: August 25, 2021
On August 24, 2021, the Ontario government filed a regulation (O. Reg. 577/21) amending the Rules for Areas at Step 3 and at the Roadmap Exit Step with respect to the establishment and implementation of vaccination policies by businesses or organizations.
Specifically, O. Reg. 577/21 requires businesses or organizations to operate in compliance with “any advice, recommendations and instructions” issued by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, or by a medical officer of health after consultation with the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health,
(a) requiring the business or organization to establish, implement and ensure compliance with a COVID-19 vaccination policy, or
(b) setting out the precautions and procedures that the business or organization must include in its COVID-19 vaccination policy.
For example, the Chief Medical Officer of Health recently issued a Directive that requires certain health care settings, including public hospitals, to implement mandatory vaccination policies. We will continue to monitor for future directives or binding recommendations that may apply to other sectors within the province.
This requirement came into force on August 24, 2021 and applies to both Step 3 and the Roadmap Exit Step. All of Ontario is currently in Step 3.
If you have any questions about how this applies to your workplace please contact Amanda Lawrence-Patel or your regular Hicks Morley lawyer.
The article in this client update provides general information and should not be relied on as legal advice or opinion. This publication is copyrighted by Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP and may not be photocopied or reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the express permission of Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP. ©
