Over 1,400 laid-off BC tourism and hospitality workers to fill non-clinical roles in vaccination clinics

A new partnership will employ more than 1,400 tourism and hospitality workers in mass COVID-19 vaccination clinics, the BC government announced today.

This partnership “will provide new jobs for people while contributing to BC’s already accelerated vaccine rollout,” said BC Premier John Horgan. “People who work in the hard-hit tourism and hospitality sector have answered the call to help with BC’s immunization plan.”

• See also:
  • Laid off staff at YVR Airport being recalled to help manage vaccination sites 
  • BC health officials address early COVID-19 bookings for some households
  • BC’s COVID-19 rules amended to allow for outdoor religious gatherings
  • Clinically extremely vulnerable people in BC can register for COVID-19 vaccine next week

The province noted a number of tourism and hospitality businesses have already begun to “call and train hundreds of staff who have been laid off due to the pandemic.”

Workers from these industries will provide “their expertise and logistical support as non-clinical staff at immunization clinics to help move people through the clinics efficiently and safely.”

Community partners in this program include:

• Air Canada
• BC Pavilion Corporation
• Ceres Terminals Canada
• Canadian Red Cross
• Fraser Valley Bandits
• Pacific Destinations Services
• Pacific National Exhibition
• Tourism Whistler
• Vancouver Canucks
• Vancouver Giants
• Vancouver International Airport
• WestJet

Asked how long this program is expected to run, Horgan said it will be in place “as long as we need the help and support. We’re all in this together and focused and getting the outcome we all want, which is a return to normal.”

The province said that under its accelerated timeline, everyone who is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine will be able to receive a first dose before July 1 of this year.