By Oli Herrera

VETERINARY AND VACCINES

Local veterinary clinics say they won’t enforce proof of vaccine mandate

Aug 31, 2021 | 5:09 PM

PRINCE GEORGE—Veterinary clinics were among the list of essential services in the early days of the pandemic that were not forced to close. They’re not included in next month’s proof of vaccination mandate.

Essential businesses like public walk-in clinics can’t require proof of vaccination to enter, but in B.C., veterinary clinics are considered a private business. No more different than a restaurant. Meaning they could enforce the mandate if they choose to do so.

But both the Prince George Veterinary Hospital and Murdoch Veterinary Clinic say they won’t be requiring vaccinations to access services.

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“We do not have plans to change any of our protocols since the beginning of COVID,” said Kate Peebles, Office Manager at Murdoch Veterinary Clinic

“At this point, we’re just following government mandates, so we’re not currently on that list. So we’re going to continue with what they’ve recommended, which means we will still see clients through that,” said Casey Bockus, Services Manager, Prince George Veterinary Hospital.

Throughout the pandemic, veterinary clinics have been providing help through curbside services and asking clients to wear masks while inside.

“So our doctor will go out, the client will check in through our intercom out front, and the doctor or technician will go out and get the patient, do the services inside and then return the patient to the car outside,” said Peebles.

It’s a protocol that has been largely successful especially for staff and patients at Murdoch Veterinary Clinic. Peebles says that some staff are immunocompromised.

“Our clients really seem to be responsive to it. We don’t seem to get a ton of pushback on it, everyone seems to understand even when masks came off here, just a couple of months ago, we still continue to have masks on in the clinic and ask clients to wear masks simply because of our immunocompromised staff that we have in our clinic,” said Peebles.

At the Prince George Veterinary Hospital, patients have been allowed to be inside with their pets.

“Things have been a little more lenient over the last few months.We are definitely allowing our clients into the building to be with their pets in the room as long if they’re willing to wear a mask, if not we ask that they stay outside, we’ll do curbside care,” said Bockus.

Both clinics say that even as the mandate approaches, they will continue to provide the service and care needed to keep all pets safe and healthy.