The Toronto Police Service’s mandatory COVID-19 immunization policy has ended, allowing the return of unvaccinated officers and employees who went on leave.
In a statement, TPS spokeswoman Const. Alex Li said the force made the decision to raise the vaccine requirement “in response to the current public health and occupational health context of the pandemic and the unique nature of its work and jobs.”
“As the pandemic has evolved, the service has continued to assess its focus in light of these factors and the specific occupational health context of our workplaces,” Li said.
TPS’s vaccination policy was announced in August 2021. It initially put 205 members (117 uniformed officers and 88 civilian employees) on indefinite leave after the deadline to be vaccinated or to reveal their status had passed.
The force said 99 percent of its members are fully vaccinated and all new hires must be vaccinated against COVID-19.
He said on Wednesday that there are currently 101 employees on leave who will be able to return on June 21.
“Officers will be deployed as required by the service and civilian members will return to their original roles,” he said.
“The Service continues to ensure that our workplaces remain safe, which includes ongoing measures of COVID-19 as appropriate.”