Ontario government officials have revealed that restaurant workers will be offered COVID-19 vaccines in late June during phase two of the province's vaccination program.
While concerns over the survival of the industry were cited as part of the government's reasoning for allowing patios to re-open in Toronto and indoor dining to resume with limited capacity in other areas of the province, staff safety had been largely overlooked, until recently.
The reality is that workers face an increased risk of infection as they come into close contact with large numbers of customers who, when sitting down, are not required to wear masks. Therefore, even with the correct PPE and measures put in place by individual establishments, they can not be certain of their safety, nor eliminate the possibility of close contact.
Emma Cummings, an employee at JOEY in Ottawa, isn't comfortable touching customer's dirty forks and glasses, especially when she's very busy and doesn't have time to wash her hands after handling everything and anything.
"That it did make me feel a little uneasy," she says.
That being the case, receiving a vaccine would help to relieve the additional pressure and risk currently shouldered by staff. Restaurant workers don't have any say in when they go back to work, so it is vital that they are protected when duty calls.
"Serving is my job," says Megan Farrell, an experienced server who has recently gone back to work at a bar and restaurant located in the GTA. "It's how I make my money and pay my bills; it wasn't an option to go back, I knew I had to even if I was putting myself at risk [and] though I use every precaution available, there's no possible way to do this job without being close to guests and strangers every minute of my shift."
It only seems right that if restaurant staff have to go to work, they are offered protection. Farrell says she was simultaneously relieved and excited at the news of becoming eligible for a vaccine.
"After all frontline care workers are vaccinated, I cannot wait," she says. "I have a sense of relief knowing I can work safely and come home to my family without being a threat."
Farrell also highlighted that the contradictory nature of the guidelines made it impossible for her to keep to them at work. Her ability to track who was in her bubble was taken away, which meant going against all precautions set out by the Government of Canada. At least with the protection of a vaccine, Farrell, Cummings and countless other restaurant staff will be able to work without carrying the weight of breaking guidelines.
For Cummings, she explained that being offered a vaccine will help to alleviate her fears over stability.
"I was concerned about income," she says. "With everything up in the air, I had no idea how much money I’d be making or the next time we’d be shut down again, meaning no income at all."
Though it is plausible that restaurants may be ordered to close in the future, having vaccinated staff should help to minimize the need for total shutdowns, and to lessen worries over inconsistent pay. Cummings concluded that despite feeling much safer knowing she'll be vaccinated, she was 'somewhat disheartened' that at this stage, vaccines are not an indication of our nearing return to regular freedoms.
