Despite vaccine mandates lifting across Alberta and the country, unvaccinated medical students are hitting yet another wall preventing the completion of their studies..An unexpected “grey area” has been created for students who are now permitted to return to their studies by their respective post-secondary institutions, however, their residency placements are now in jeopardy..All post-secondary institutions in Alberta have announced they will be following the advice of the government of Alberta in the lifting of proof of vaccination policy for staff and students..Even with mandates lifting, including those with Alberta Health Services (AHS), hundreds of medical students in the province have been met by a roadblock preventing them from completing a portion of their training..Most medical fields require in-person training at clinics and other medical facilities, many of which are under the jurisdiction of AHS or have set a proof of vaccination policy based on advice from the government and AHS..Monica Martin, an ultrasound student at SAIT, told the Western Standard she is facing this roadblock in her schooling..“I have had a medical exemption from any vaccines since the start of my program but come COVID, that all changed,” said Martin..“My doctor said that if I get vaccinated, I am at a very high risk for a life-altering or ending vaccine reaction.”.Martin said she is required to rotate through three specialties for her practicum and said many of the clinics will not take on unvaccinated students..“This is preventing me from having a well-rounded experience,” said Martin indicating she will not be able to complete all three specialties..Another Alberta medical student said they have been caught in this vaccine-mandate loophole, as well..The student has asked to remain anonymous to avoid any negative recourse from the institution and placement coordinators..In a letter to the Minister of Advanced Education Demetrios Nicolaides , Premier Jason Kenney and President and CEO of AHS Dr. Verna Yiu, the student outlined they had been registered for their program in early 2021, well before AHS implemented its COVID-19 vaccination policy..The student indicated they don’t plan to work for AHS long-term, but needs to complete placement hours as part of the requirement for their program..“There are many students in the same predicament,” said the student in the letter..“The new changes did not consider our hardship. Many of us have paid tuition, given up jobs and moved from our communities to complete our education.”.The student said they have been unable to get answers or solutions from AHS, Alberta Health, the respective association overseeing their field, their post-secondary institution or placement coordinator..In the letter, the student pleaded, “Can you please help me and my fellow students complete our schooling,” and asked for an exemption in order to complete their placement hours..The student said they were provided with a letter directed from AHS to the post-secondary institution..“The provincial government has directed AHS to amend the Immunization or Testing of Workers for COVID-19 Policy effective March 10, 2022, at 4:00 p.m.,” said Sean Chilton, VP People, Health and Information Technology with AHS..“We know you may have questions and we are currently reviewing the government directive to understand how it applies to post-secondary institutions.”.On March 8, AHS announced it was, at the direction of Minister of Health Jason Copping, rescinding its mandatory vaccination policy and COVID-19 testing protocols for its staff effective at 4 p.m. on March 10..Although current AHS staff are now permitted to work without testing whether vaccinated against COVID-19 or not, any new hires as of November 30 will be required to show proof of vaccination..The Western Standard contacted AHS for clarification on the policy with regard to students who had engaged in their courses well before the pandemic, and who, because of their choice to remain unvaccinated, are now unable to complete their placements and finish their training..“Student placements are an effective way for future healthcare workers to gain the practical skills they need for their careers and in some cases are required by their programs,” said AHS in a statement..“Any student in a placement that started on or before November 30, 2021, and who have been testing while in their placement because they were not fully immunized, will be allowed to continue their placement without requirement to be fully immunized.”.“Any student starting their first placement at AHS after November 30, 2021, will be required to be fully immunized.”.AHS said as they consider students in their residency to be AHS employees, its immunization policy would apply to them the same way it applies to AHS employees..AHS also said the vast majority of students needing medical placements were already immunized when the AHS employee immunization policy was introduced..However, when questioned how this will impact students who are opposed to the vaccine for any number of reasons, who are years into their training and have committed considerable amounts of time and money to their education, AHS did not respond..For example, considering it typically takes 10 years of education and residency to become a doctor in Canada, some of these students would have embarked on their career studies well before the pandemic..The Western Standard contacted the University of Alberta (U of A), the post-secondary institution the student attends, to discuss the struggle these students are facing..“We are working with students impacted by changes in health and safety regulations to ensure they can take part in the experiential learning component of their respective programs,” said Vice Provost and University Registrar Melissa Padfield in a statement to the Western Standard..“Students are subject to the rules of the organizations hosting their practicums, clinical placements and residencies. If an organization requires students to be vaccinated, they would need to either follow that rule or work with their home faculty to see whether their placement can be held in a different location.”.Padfield said U of A encourages students to contact their respective faculties for support if they are facing challenges..In an effort to get a better understanding of placement options in the coming months, the student also reached out to the association that oversees their medical field..“The decisions on vaccination requirements coming from Alberta Health or private clinics are entirely up to them to put into place,” said a reply from the association..An update from January 28 on the association’s website says, “Employers may set expectations and employment requirements over and above the requirements and standards established by [the association].”.The association said it is not its role to interfere in the decisions made by clinics to keep or do away with vaccination mandates..Yet, the Western Standard reached out to several student placement clinics to inquire whether they were following AHS and the provincial government in lifting proof of vaccination policy and was told these clinics are waiting for direction from the association. .“I spoke with the owner/operator of the clinic and we discussed it and agreed that it is basically up to the [association] to make the call as we follow their guidelines,” said the office manager of a Lethbridge clinic..The director for a Calgary clinic echoed the comment..“Currently, we are following the association for guidance, in terms of vaccination status,” a spokesman for the clinic said, adding they would likely consider student placements on a case-by-case basis..The Alberta Human Rights Commission (AHRC) said the current COVID-19 pandemic and resulting government public health orders are “evolving.”.“While Alberta’s human rights legislation is designed to prevent discrimination on certain grounds, the interpretation and application of human rights laws in the present public health circumstances is evolving,” said Deborah Mebude, policy and communication consultant with the AHRC..“We are unable to predict how these restrictions will unfold in the province, and at particular businesses and agencies. Where a student or employee feels their rights have been violated, they can make a complaint to the commission.”.Mebude said as COVID-19 restrictions wind down, the AHRC will deal with emerging issues on a case-by-case basis..“Some of these issues may be more in line with Charter arguments (life, liberty and security or the person),” said Mebude adding the AHRC does not apply the Charter but does keep its values in mind..In the cases these medical students are facing, Mebude said where the Alberta Human Rights Act could apply is if these students feel they are being discriminated against based on protected grounds..“Where the Alberta Human Rights Act could apply in this circumstance, is if one of these medical students has been discriminated against based on a protected ground (physical disability, mental disability, gender, age etc.), experienced an adverse impact (unable to complete practicum), and if the disability (or other ground) is the reason they could not complete the practicum or the reason they experienced another negative consequence.”.Protected grounds under the Act also include religious beliefs, of which some students say they applied for exemptions based on this ground, but in many cases were denied..Mebude also pointed to a section under the Act titled Bona fide occupational requirements that states, “…in certain circumstances, a limitation on individual rights may be reasonable and justifiable. Discrimination or exclusion may be allowed if an employer can show that a discriminatory standard, policy or rule is a necessary requirement of a job…”.Examples included requirements necessary for a person to perform their jobs safely such as drivers who need “acceptable vision and an appropriate driver’s licence” or age requirements to work in certain environments such as a liquor store..If an employer claims a bona fide occupational requirement in the case of a complaint being filed against them, the onus is on the employer to show it would be “impossible to accommodate the employee without undue hardship.”.The Western Standard sent several emails to the Ministry of Advanced Education, the Ministry of Health and Premier Jason Kenney’s office but has yet to receive a response..In a separate but related story on lingering vaccine passports, Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping condemned the federal government’s requirements for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for air travel..Copping said it’s time for the federal government to “catch up with the evidence, with the views of infections disease experts, with the views of our chief medical officer of health, with the views of Albertans and other Canadians.”.Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
