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In what is being described as an abrupt move, the head of the BC Nurses Union has resigned.

"The BC Nurses' Union thanks Christine Sorensen for her years of dedication and service to the BCNU. Christine Sorensen has resigned as President of the BCNU for personal reasons and to pursue other opportunities," said brief statement on the union's website.

The notice went up as results for the federal election started rolling out.

Sorensen had held the position of president since 2017 and the move comes as the union split over the mandate that healthcare workers be vaccinated by October 26, or face possible suspension without pay.

Union leadership has said it is encouraging all members to get vaccinated, but instead of being let go, the union would prefer unvaccinated nurses be offered other positions away from frontline care and undergo daily testing and additional personal protective equipment as an alternative.

The union's position has been unpopular with some members who have expressed the view that health care workers should be vaccinated.

Unofficial estimates put the number of BC Nurses who have been fully vaccinated between 90 and 95 per cent and there are more than 40,000 nurses across the province of British Columbia.