City introduces mandatory vaccine policy for employees

The City of Cambridge is implementing a mandatory vaccine policy for employees, volunteers, part-time workers and contractors.

The new policy, endorsed by City Council, will require staff to provide verification of full COVID-19 vaccination. Staff who are not vaccinated, or choose not to disclose their vaccination status, will be required to undergo education on the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination, as well as participate in regular rapid antigen testing prior to reporting to the workplace. This includes those who have medical or human rights code exemptions. 

From the start of the pandemic, the City has been committed to taking every reasonable precaution to protect employees and the community from the threats of COVID-19. This vaccination policy is designed to maximize COVID-19 vaccination rates among City employees. Full vaccination has been shown to be effective in reducing COVID-19 virus transmission and protecting vaccinated individuals from severe consequences of COVID-19, including the Delta variant currently circulating in Ontario.

“It is our responsibility to provide a safe work place for the City’s employees and the public we serve,” said Mayor Kathryn McGarry. “We are in the midst of a fourth wave and vaccination is one of the best measures we can take to protect our community. We know vaccines work. We know they help prevent serious cases of COVID-19 and hospitalization. It is very important for City employees to be fully vaccinated in order to protect themselves against serious illness, as well as to provide indirect protection to others, including colleagues and those they work with in the community.”

Since COVID-19 vaccines became available in the Waterloo Region, the City has encouraged employees and the public to get vaccinated as soon they were eligible. All new City of Cambridge employees will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of being hired by the City.

-30-

Primary Media Contact:

Susanne Hiller
Director, Corporate Communications
City of Cambridge
hillers@cambridge.ca