Ontario looks at employer-operated vaccination clinics

Ontario is working with public health units, business groups and large employers to explore the possibility of having employer-operated onsite vaccination clinics.

This is to ensure that COVID-19 hot spot communities at greatest risk of infection will have access to the vaccine.

"We must get vaccines to the people in these hot spot regions as quickly as possible in order to stop the spread of this virus and prevent our hospitals from being overwhelmed,” says Premier Doug Ford.

Some clinics will be set up, operated and funded by participating employers within hot spot areas. They will vaccinate employees aged 18 and over, as well as members of the local and neighbouring communities, and supplement publicly run vaccination clinics.

Last month, Ontario said it is providing guidance to employees who want to self-swab for a rapid antigen point-of-care test on a voluntary basis under the supervision of a trained individual.

To be eligible for a clinic, employers must comply with the following criteria:

• The workplace must be located within an identified hot-spot community and have had a previous COVID-19 outbreak or is at risk of an outbreak.
• The onsite clinic will vaccinate employees who cannot work at home, many of whom reside in hot-spot areas.
• The employer will take on the responsibility of setting up, operating and funding the onsite vaccination clinic as well as the community clinics being sponsored if not onsite.

Previously, Saskatchewan amended its OHS regulations to give employees paid time off to get vaccinated against COVID-19.