Disability Alliance BC (DABC) wishes to preface our statement by expressing our support with the BC Government’s efforts to fully vaccinate British Columbians over 12 years of age against COVID-19. DABC believes that everyone who can get vaccinated, should get vaccinated in order to stop the spread of COVID-19.

However, DABC has serious concerns with the recent public health order (PHO) issued by the Ministry of Health and BC’s Provincial Health Officer, on August 23ʳᵈ, 2021. Specifically, DABC takes issue with the PHO that no exemptions will be allowed on medical grounds to access “social, recreational, and discretionary events and businesses”¹ without a vaccine passport providing proof of full vaccination. This recent PHO mandating the use of vaccine passports without providing any accommodation for people who cannot get vaccinated due to their medical condition is blatant discrimination and will further perpetuate the exclusion and disenfranchisement of those affected by this vaccine passport system.

DABC recognizes that there are British Columbians who have made efforts to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19, but have not been given approval by their doctor, allergist or other designated medical professional to do so. DABC understands that in these circumstances, the onus of responsibility lies on these medical professionals to determine the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine for their patient, and not upon the individual. Therefore, this is at no fault of the individuals experiencing this situation.

DABC also recognizes that the number of British Columbians who cannot get vaccinated on medical grounds is small compared to the wider population. Understanding this, implementing exemptions for individuals in this situation would not negatively affect the BC Government’s goal of reducing transmission of COVID-19. DABC believes that the BC Government is obligated under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to find a way to accommodate the rights of people with disabilities in this situation, while also mandating a requirement for vaccine passports to ensure the public health safety of our population.

DABC also recognizes that the recent PHO is in reaction to the Delta variant of COVID-19, a more contagious version which has resulted in increased positive cases of COVID-19 in our province in recent weeks, and as such, urgent action has been taken by the BC Government to stop the spread through the implementation of a vaccine passport system. Understanding this, DABC recommends that the BC Government implement as soon as possible a system of medical exemptions for the Vaccine Passport, to be developed with proactive participation and input by the disability community. Further, DABC recommends that no additional restrictions on accessing other types of services be expanded beyond the current public health order.

¹ https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021HLTH0053-001659

Download a copy of our statement here: https://disabilityalliancebc.therightfitbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DABC-Statement-on-BC-Vaccine-Passport-1.pdf

DABC has received the following response to the questions that we sent to the leaders of the three main political parties running in the BC Election. We have yet to receive a response from the BC Green Party.

View the BC Liberal’s responses to DABC’s Election 2017 questions here.

On Friday, February 26^th, DABC had an information table at Gordon Neighbourhood House’s (GNH) regular Food Hub. Every Friday morning, except for cheque week, GNH hosts the Food Bank at its site in the West End of Vancouver. Upstairs, free soup and coffee are prepared and served by community volunteers. As part of the Food Hub they also have fresh produce for sale at reduced prices from what you would pay at the grocery store.

I had the chance to talk with people with disabilities and seniors about DABC programs and about our upcoming Let’s Talk Food Access free workshop at Gordon Neighbourhood House on March 17^th, from 12-3 PM.

For more information about the GNH Food Hub contact Susanna, susanna@gordonhouse.ca

For more information and to register for the Let’s Talk Food Access workshop for people with disabilities, contact Karen Martin, karen@disabilityalliancebc.therightfitbc.org or 604 875-0188.