While one local health organization is looking to expand their COVID vaccine policy, another appears to have ended such rules.
After requiring staff to have COVID shots since late 2021, West Nipissing General Hospital is no longer requiring them to work at their facilities. Multiple members of the community have informed me that they have been hired recently without being asked to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccinations.
Additionally recent job postings on the organization’s website do not list COVID-19 vaccinations as a condition of employment (previously it was).
The latest move will certainly help alleviate the staff shortages that are plaguing all healthcare organizations across the country. Earlier this month, Smooth Rock Falls Hospital had their social media post go viral after they posted a job vacancy for a nursing position that indicated that “COVID-19 vaccination were no longer required”. The small northern Ontario community of only 1,300 had their job posting shared hundreds of times on Facebook with dozens of people claiming they would be applying.
I reached out to the Chair of the West Nipissing General Hospital, Jamie Restoule on Facebook to confirm if these changes were accurate. As of writing this, he has not responded.
Recently organization have faced the dilemma of having to re-draft their COVID staff policies or abandon them. That is because most policies requiring original shots of COVID vaccines from 2021 are unachievable as the original shots are not offered in Canada anymore.
According to the Ministry of Health, all adults are now recommended to get a single XBB.1.5 shot regardless of their previous vaccination status (so requiring 2 or 3 shots from any individual as a condition of employment is not an achievable or legal job requirement).*
*For example I reached out the local health unit to ask if a previously unvaccinated (from COVID) individual could get two shots and they said they wouldn’t be able to. They would only qualify for what is recommended which is a single XBB.1.5 shot.
As I reported earlier this week, as opposed to scrapping their policy, Au Chateau LTC home is seeking to approve a new COVID vaccination policy for staff. At their November 15th meeting, the board which includes the hospital chair (Restoule), will vote on a newly drafted policy that will require all staff to have “current recommended/approved vaccines/boosters from the Ministry of Health”.
This will effectively require all staff to have the latest XBB.1.5 booster or face termination.
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