The province withdrew its mandate to vaccinate hospitals in March, but dozens kept their own policies, which ultimately led to the termination of members who refused to vaccinate. A Department of Health spokesman said these organizations were free 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’s Executive Vice-President of Health, Dr. Chris Simpson, described the current situation last week.
In each response, the hospitals said that repealing their vaccination policies is not currently being considered.
“Healthcare workers deserve to feel safe and provide patient care in an environment that requires the highest level of protection available against COVID-19,” the president and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association told CTV News Toronto , Anthony Dale.
“Having unvaccinated workers in the workplace will not be supported by the tens of thousands of vaccinated staff working in Ontario hospitals today,” Dale said.
In a statement, Dale went on to acknowledge that this group represents only a “very small number” of providers who choose to remain unvaccinated.
At University Health Network, up to one percent of the workforce – 153 of their 17,500 employees – did not comply with their policy and left the workplace.
“UHN cares for many immunocompromised patients and immunosuppressed patients, so we need to provide as much protection as possible for our patients and staff,” said UHN spokeswoman Gillian Howard.
Dr Jeff Powis, medical director of infection prevention and control at Michael Garron Hospital (MHG), acknowledged the current staffing “pressures” facing hospitals 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 observations. “For the safety of everyone who walks through our doors, Osler’s policy will continue to be implemented as planned.”
Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) CEO Doris Greenspoon said she supports the hard line hospitals are taking with their vaccine policies.
“The numbers are minuscule, compared to the people who left because of Bill 124 or the number of registered nurses, registered nurse practitioners and nurse practitioners who are waiting on the sidelines to be processed for practice, 26,000 of them,” Greenspoon said.
“These are the solutions, not the short changes that would put patients at risk.”
With files from CTV News Toronto’s Abby Neufeld
