Nursing shortage prevents BC's nurse union from supporting vaccine mandate

The president of the BC Nurses Union (BCNU) informed her colleagues Monday that she would be leaving her post immediately. The move comes as members of the union relayed their opposition to the province's vaccine mandate for healthcare workers.

The union does not currently support the vaccine mandate.

"The BC Nurses’ Union thanks Christine Sorensen for her years of dedication and service to the BCNU," reads a union statement. It cites she resigned for "personal reasons" and "to pursue other opportunities."

Sorensen has not commented on the province’s vaccine mandate for healthcare workers as part of its proof of vaccination system, reported City News 1130.

Union vice-president Aman Grewal said the loss of a "single nurse" during the fourth wave couldn’t be supported.

Grewal said all members are encouraged to get the vaccine, but the mandate comes amid a dire staffing crisis.

"The union is not in a position to support an order which will serve to remove even a single nurse or other health care worker from the health care system at a time of severe crisis," she said. "It’s just not something that we can do."

Grewal cited "20 percent" of workers are reluctant to get the shot because they are pregnant, family planning or breastfeeding.

Gayle Duteil, who served as BCNU president from 2014 to 2019, was "saddened" to hear nurses are hesitant about the vaccine. She said less than 10 percent of nurses are unvaccinated.

Duteil also acknowledged the nursing shortage of nurses but expressed doubts on how many would resign over the health order.

"I don’t believe that nurses will put their jobs in jeopardy. They can ask for accommodation if their medical or religious needs meet that accommodation, but I don’t think that you will see an overwhelming resignation," she said.

Grewal added that others are concerned about vaccine safety.

"There are those who are not comfortable with the vaccine. They say they have read the science, but they are not satisfied with the science that is out," said Grewal.

She acknowledged the "long-term effects have not been determined yet because this is such a new situation that we are faced with."

Duteil added: "I know that the vast majority of nurses want vaccinated colleagues. The vast majority of nurses are likely vaccinated."

Duteil said it's difficult for vaccinated nurses to work alongside holdouts, which she said are a "very small minority." Expressing her frustrations concerning the vaccine holdouts, she said, "It’s not just rowing the boat straight ahead as if things don’t change — it is all hands on deck."

"There are some that are very, very dedicated to no vaccinations, there’s no question, just like in the general community," said Duteil. "It’s a divisive issue. It’s dividing families, and it is dividing, some sections of the community, and clearly it’s dividing some nurses."

During Duteil’s tenure as president, the union also took the province to court in opposition to mandatory flu vaccines. But she said opposition to the COVID vaccine would be a mistake.

"This is different. We are in a pandemic, and bold steps must be taken," she clarified.

Proof of vaccination is required for workers, volunteers or contractors in acute and community care as of October 26. A similar mandate for workers in long-term care and assisted living came into effect on October 12.