Ontario hospitals plan to uphold COVID-19 vaccine policies amid 'crisis' staffing shortages
Ontario hospitals are upholding their mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies for employees as staff shortages mount to a “crisis” with more emergency departments temporarily closing over the weekend.
The province dropped the vaccine mandate at hospitals in March, but dozens kept their own policies in place, which ultimately led to the termination of members who refused to get vaccinated. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health said these organizations are at liberty to “choose” to implement their own vaccination policies.
CTV News Toronto asked more than a dozen of those hospitals if they are considering lifting their mandates as the province faces a staffing “crisis,” as Ontario Health Executive Vice-President Dr. Chris Simpson described the current situation last week.
In each response, hospitals said that dropping their vaccination policies was not currently under consideration.
“Health-care workers deserve to feel safe and to deliver patient care in an environment that requires the highest level of protection available against COVID-19,” Ontario Hospital Association President and CEO Anthony Dale told CTV News Toronto.
“Having unvaccinated workers in the workplace would not be supported by the tens of thousands of vaccinated staff working in Ontario’s hospitals today,” Dale said.
In a statement, Dale went on to acknowledge that this group only accounts for a “very small number” of providers who choose to remain unvaccinated.
At University Health Network, up to one per cent of the workforce – 153 of their 17,500 employees – did not comply with their policy and left the workplace.
“UHN cares for many immune-compromised patients and immune-suppressed patients so we must provide as much protection as possible for patients and our staff,” UHN spokesperson Gillian Howrad said.
Dr. Jeff Powis, medical director of infection prevention and control at Michael Garron Hospital (MHG), acknowledged the current staffing “pressures” hospitals are facing across the province. However, he said MGH has no plans to change its stance on mandatory vaccination.
North York General Hospital and William Osler Health System echoed similar remarks. “For the safety of everyone who walks through our doors, Osler’s policy will continue to be implemented as planned.”
Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children also said they don’t have plans to change their vaccine mandate or bring back staff who are on leave. They said that almost 100 per cent of their staff have been fully vaccinated and it’s just “a very small number of staff on leave due to SickKids’ vaccine mandate policy.”
Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) CEO Doris Grinspun said she stands by the hard line hospitals are taking with their vaccine policies.
“The numbers are minimal, compared to the people who have left because of Bill 124 or the number of registered nurses, registered practical nurses and nurse practitioners who are waiting on the sidelines to be processed to practice, 26,000 of them,” Grinspun said.
“Those are the solutions and not short changed solutions which would put patients at risk.”
With files from CTV News Toronto's Abby Neufeld
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Tesla recalling nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks because accelerator pedal can get stuck
Tesla is recalling 3,878 of its 2024 Cybertrucks after it discovered that the accelerator pedal can become stuck, potentially causing the vehicle to accelerate unintentionally and increase the risk of a crash.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.