County Of Wellington Introduces Covid-19 Vaccination Policy

The County of Wellington considers vaccinations to be fundamental to the
protection of our employees and the general public, and to be consistent with the best available public
health advice for prevention of the spread of COVID and variants.

In June, the County introduced a mandatory vaccination requirement for all new employees joining the
County in all departments. COVID-19 vaccinations are a fundamental condition of new and ongoing
employment for these individuals, and will remain in place for the foreseeable future.

The County has been working closely with employment lawyers to develop fair provisions and protocols
that are in alignment with provincial directives and subject to limited exceptions in accordance with the Human Rights Code (Ontario).

By September 22, 2021 all County of Wellington employees must disclose their COVID-19 vaccination
status. Beginning October 23, employees who are not fully vaccinated will need to be rapid tested
regularly for COVID-19. The County may require that the employee pay for each rapid antigen test,
subject to any applicable laws and reasonable practices. Legitimate medical exemptions will be
accommodated. Each case will be considered on its own facts, in accordance with any applicable legal
obligations under the Human Rights Code.

“Public Health data shows that the Delta variant poses a significant risk to those who are unvaccinated, including children under the age of 12,” said Warden Kelly Linton. “With the rising cases of COVID-19 in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph and across the province, the County has decided that we must do everything we can to ensure the health and safety of our employees and the public we proudly serve.”

“Vaccinations are the best way to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect people from the effects of
the virus,” said Dr. Nicola Mercer, Medical Officer of Health and CEO of Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph
Public Health. “I encourage everyone who can to get a first and second shot as soon as possible. I
applaud Wellington County for taking this significant step to protect their employees and those who live in the County, particularly our children who are not yet eligible for a vaccine.”