On May 10, 2022, BC’s Provincial Health Officer (PHO) Dr. Bonnie Henry released aggregate data on the COVID-19 vaccination status of regulated health professionals in the province, including RAUDs, RHIPs, and RSLPs.
Dr. Henry said that among practicing regulated health professionals, 93.9% have completed the two dose COVID-19 vaccine series or have a medical exemption obtained from the PHO, as of April 25, 2022.
The PHO published data on COVID-19 vaccination status for registrants of 17 of BC’s 18 health profession regulatory colleges. According to the data, as of April 25, 2022, 91.9% of registered audiologists/hearing instrument practitioners and 92.9% of registered speech language pathologists are vaccinated (received a minimum of two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine) or have a medical exemption.
The data does not include reporting from the BC College of Nurses and Midwives, as more time is needed to collect that data given the large number of registrants in that college.
On March 7, 2022, the PHO issued the Health Professionals COVID-19 Vaccination Status Information and Preventive Measures Order. The Order required health profession regulatory colleges, including the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia (CSHBC), to record the COVID-19 vaccination status of all of its registrants and disclose the information only to the PHO or a medical health officer, on request, either in the requested aggregate or individual form. Under the Public Health Act, the PHO may make orders that health profession regulatory colleges are legally required to follow.
In a May 10 news conference, Dr. Henry said the PHO will continue to work with BC health profession regulatory colleges to ensure standards are in place so the public can make informed decisions when seeking treatment from individual health practitioners.
CSHBC will share further information with the public and registrants as it becomes available. Any questions about the aggregated data provided by the PHO should be directed to the Ministry of Health/PHO.