Teamsters Canada believes that the health and safety of its members, and the general public, are very important. Getting vaccinated is a personal decision. We have prepared this question-and-answer document based on interactions with our members on social media.
Q. What should I do if my employer requires me to get vaccinated?
A. Your union has an obligation to advocate on your behalf and we believe that your choices should be respected. The health and safety of all workers – whether or not they support vaccination – is important. We encourage you to talk to others and consult government and medical science reference sites to make an informed decision.
Q. Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe?
A. Strict safeguards are in place to ensure the safety of all COVID-19 vaccines. Before being validated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and approved by Health Canada, COVID-19 vaccines must undergo rigorous testing in clinical trials.
For more information on vaccine safety, click here: https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-(covid-19)-vaccines-safety
Q. When will things get back to normal?
A. We all want to be able to resume our pre-pandemic life, travel, play team sports, attend concerts, or just have a meal with friends and family. It is hard to predict when this will happen, but vaccination could be one of the tools that allow our society to get back to normal faster.
Useful resources:
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Prevention and risks – https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/prevention-risks.html
How to get vaccinated – https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/vaccines/how-vaccinated.html
