Photo: The Canadian Press

The provincial government says 98% of public servants are at least partially vaccinated.

A proof-of-vaccination policy went into effect for 38,240 government employees on Nov. 22.

In a data release Tuesday, the government said among those employees:

• 97% of employees have met the requirement for full vaccination.
• 439 employees, 1.15%, are partially vaccinated and have 35 days from the date of their first dose to become fully vaccinated.
• 274 employees, 0.72%, have requested an accommodation based on a medical condition or other protected grounds and these requests are being reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• 432 employees, 1.13%, are unvaccinated or declined to disclose their vaccination status.

Additional employees who are currently on various forms of leave are required to provide proof of vaccination when they return to work.

The BC Public Service is one of the largest employers in the province.

The vaccine mandate applies to all employees working for the BC Public Service regardless of whether the employee works onsite or remotely. This also includes employees of any board or agency to which the Public Service Act applies.

Unvaccinated employees, those who refuse to disclose, and partially vaccinated employees who do not receive their second dose within the 35-day time frame, are placed on unpaid leave for three months. Employees who do not show proof of full vaccination after the three-month unpaid leave may be terminated.

Contractors and others accessing employee-only areas of indoor public service workplaces will also have to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 13. This does not apply to members of the public accessing government services.