A change in COVID vaccine policy in the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District for politicians and on-call firefighters.

The CSRD board has now temporarily suspended its mandatory vaccination requirements for on-call firefighters for 6-months, while  eliminating vaccine requirements for its politicians.

Tracy Hughes with the Regional District says suspension of proof of vaccination for firefighters will be for a 6-month period.

“Pending a review in six months or if the provincial public health order changes then we can go back and review that policy.

However, Hughes adds this doesn’t mean a complete change in the CSRD’s COVID policy.

“While our paid on call firefighters will be welcome to attend fire practice and participate as full members of the fire department, those firefighters will be required to wear masks if they are working directly in the CSRD administration.”

On the fire-fighters front, Hughes says the decision was made after losing around 15-percent of them due to the mandatory vaccination policy.

“There was a general feeling amongst our firefighters that they were willing to accept working side by side with unvaccinated firefighters.”

Meanwhile, Hughes says the CSRD Board is eliminating its COVID requirements for politicians is due to the forthcoming election in October. She suggests it would not be fair to not allow someone to run due to their vaccination status.

However, in a release it says if elected officials choose to not be vaccinated, they will be required to work remotely where possible.

“If unable to work remotely, unvaccinated elected Directors will be required to wear a mask while in CSRD facilities and on CSRD business,” said the release.

-With Files From Abby Zieverink