Watson focused on encouraging vaccinations rather than mandatory immunization for certain groups

Making vaccinations mandatory for healthcare workers and teaching staff is not a decision that should be made by the city, Ottawa's Mayor Jim Watson says. 

Watson adds that the city's responsibility shouldn't focus on vaccinating one group over another. 

“That really is something I have spent a lot of time on,” he said. “My preoccupation has been needles in arms and dealing with Ottawa Public Health to ensure that we provide the tools and we have as many people vaccinated as possible.”

Watson says the focus needs to be on vaccinations, not on making sure that staff in high-risk settings get their vaccine.

“It's in everyone's self-interest and its also in the public's interest to get the vaccine, both in terms of protecting you and your loved ones,” Watson said. “My view is that the best route out of COVID-19 is getting vaccinated.”

Whether someone works in a hospital, a school, or in a religious setting, he says everyone should be getting their vaccine.

“Our numbers are going really well and that's my message to the people of Ottawa: get the vaccine.”