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Please complete the COVID-19 vaccination survey by May 14:

Vaccination against COVID-19 is a top priority for Canadian Blood Services employees. While we have confirmed prioritized access for most frontline operational teams, we know that access varies from one public health authority and region to the next. As a result, access continues to be inconsistent depending on where you live or your individual health considerations.

To better understand the current vaccination status of our workforce and potential vaccination uptake in the future, we are asking all employees to consider completing a short voluntary survey (two minutes). Your responses will be used to help enhance our vaccination advocacy strategy, communications, and other COVID-19 risk management activities such as return to office planning. Once the survey is closed, aggregated survey results will be shared with employees by province/region and nationally. All responses will remain anonymous.

Access the survey quickly and easily here.

My COVID-19 vaccination story: As efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 continue across the country, a number of our employees have come forward to share their vaccination experience and why it matters in the hopes of inspiring others to do the same. Over the next few weeks, we'll share their words in a special series. In today's installment, Navpreet Virk a registered nurse in Sudbury shares her hopes of building new memories and reigniting old traditions with her family; and Sheila Street, executive business writer in the GTA shares feelings of guilt with having access to the vaccine before others in her life who are working directly with the public. Read their stories on Connect. To participate in this important series, please reach out to us at communications@blood.ca with the subject line “MY VACCINE STORY.”  

Mother, daughter and granddaughter give new meaning to the term "blood relatives": Three generations of women: Julia Deacon, a financial donor and philanthropy coordinator here at Canadian Blood Services, her mother, Brenda, a milestone blood donor and her grandmother, Vicki, a blood recipient and former donor, hold a special connection to each other and to Canada’s Lifeline. When Vicki suffered a bad fall last year and needed blood transfusions for the second time in her life — the shared connection between these three women felt stronger than ever. “Seeing my [grandmother] receive blood transfusions this time around, versus 10 years ago, felt different. Now that my mom and I are both donors, we weren’t as scared, because we understood how those transfusions were going to save her life,” said Julia. Read the full story on blood.ca/stories.

Question of the day: How do I participate in the COVID-19 rapid screening program and book an appointment?  

At this time, rapid screening is available at the following sites: St. John’s, Dartmouth, Ottawa Concourse Gate, Brampton, Winnipeg, Regina and Calgary (CAO). Plans are underway to implement the program at Vancouver Oak Street.   

If you work onsite at one of these locations, you can register to participate on the rapid screening page of your COVID-19 employee portal. Employees are encouraged to register even if they have received the COVID-19 vaccine as it is still unknown whether vaccines will completely stop people from being infected and transmitting the virus to others.

Once you are registered, you will be able to book and view your rapid screening appointments and view your results through our new app! You will be provided instructions on how to download and use the app on a Canadian Blood Services workstation or mobile device, and on your personal smart phone, computer or tablet.  

A reminder for those who are already registered, a pre-booked appointment using the app is required for rapid screening. Same-day appointments may be available at your local site, but we recommend booking your appointments ahead of time.  

For more information about the COVID-19 rapid screening program, including FAQs on the process such as frequency of screening recommended, visit www.blood.ca/employees/rapidscreening

If you have questions, please speak with your manager/supervisor or email rapidscreening@blood.ca.

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About your digest

This digest will highlight the latest policy and employee support measures, resources to help you manage our new reality and original content like articles and videos to remind us that what we do matters.  No access to email? No problem — all this information and more can be found on blood.ca/employees from any device, no login required.    

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Have questions? Check out blood.ca/employees or email us at communications@blood.ca