The majority of Canadian manufacturers support vaccine mandates and the use of a vaccine passport to protect their employees and families.
A survey conducted by Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) has shown that 69 per cent of respondents expect more guidance from governments at all levels to reduce the legal risk associated with the implementation of the vaccine passports.
Right now, almost a quarter of Canadian manufacturers require a vaccine passport on-site.
The survey polled about 1,000 Canadian manufacturers as vaccine mandates sweep across the country and a growing number of organizations look to vaccine passports as a way to protect employees and visitors.
Most Canadian provinces and territories have implemented or are in the process of implementing some type of a vaccine passport to protect their citizens.
Manufacturers are eager to move forward with vaccine passes
At present, there’s a lack of clarity about the use of the vaccine passport in the workplace which hinders its implementation across the manufacturing sector, according to Dennis Darby, CEO of CME.
“Businesses want to make sure their hands are free to move forward,” he added.
“Provinces must provide companies with the necessary tools to reduce the risks.”
Vaccination remains crucial for manufacturers and most employers are promoting it to their workers, especially in the context of raging labour shortages affecting the sector, Darby added.
Vaccine passes will accelerate return to pre-COVID-19 operational health and safety guidelines
While some provinces have begun rolling out vaccine mandates and passport systems, Darby says the focus is mainly on retail and public places – not on how the rules can and should apply to manufacturers.
With clearer rules in place, Darby believes that vaccination levels will increase. Moreover, manufacturers that can prove their workforce has been fully vaccinated will be able to benefit from slightly less stringent operational health and safety protocols.
The emerging evidence suggests the passports can boost vaccination rates and create safer environments, according to Timothy Caulfield, Canada Research Chair in health law and policy at the University of Alberta.
Stricter government guidelines on the use of the vaccine passport will also enable employers to better manage risks associated with external visitors, including partners, vendors and suppliers, Darby added.
Quick facts: Canada’s manufacturing sector accounts for more than 10 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product. The sector, whose total sales surpassed $685 billion in 2019, directly supports more than 1.7 million jobs in Canada, CME data showed.
Vaccine passports must be frictionless and easy to use
QR codes remain the best way for individuals to show proof of their COVID-19 vaccination status.
By incorporating the data on their phone, the information is provisioned and can be transported on the individual’s person at all times.
Storing the data this way greatly reduces the risk of losing it, while enabling individuals to access it quickly whenever required.
EAIGLE’S Digital Vaccine Passport and portfolio of wellness screening solutions are helping manufacturers and other businesses to protect the health and safety of their employees and visitors. To find out more, contact us at contact@eaigle.com or visit eaigle.com/digital-vaccine-pass