Quebec Healthcare Workers Sue Government Over Vaccine Mandate Ultimatum

The Supreme Court of Quebec has begun reviewing a lawsuit filed by healthcare workers against local authorities, who issued an ultimatum for mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations by November 15. This was reported by CBC News.

The court is expected to render a decision on November 15. Lawyers representing unvaccinated staff, or those who refuse to provide their vaccination status to the authorities, have argued that the Quebec government's decision will cause more harm to the region's population than benefit.

Previously, Quebec authorities declared that all healthcare workers must be vaccinated against coronavirus by October 15, or risk losing their jobs unless they completed the full course of immunization. The deadline for the ultimatum was later extended to November 15.

On October 13, Quebec's health minister announced that 96% of staff in the region's medical institutions had completed their vaccination courses, while around 21,900 people had either not completed the course or had not received their first vaccine dose.