Holly McKenzie-Sutter, The Canadian Press
Published on EDT on Monday, March 14, 2022 at 8:08 pm
Toronto-Although Ontario has lifted its formal mission in this sector, many Ontario care facility employees still need to be vaccinated against COVID-19, but legal issues are possible. Some people are concerned about sex.
The government needed only long-term care workers to be vaccinated against the virus. Monday was previously set as a deadline for staff to take a third shot, but instead the policy ended as part of the widespread lifting of restrictions announced last week.
In a memo to the operator, the Ministry of Nursing said that housing could continue to require shots from existing staff and new employees if the policy complies with the law.
“The vaccination program at the long-term care facility was a huge success, supported by the dedication of you and your leadership team,” Erin Hanna, Deputy Long-term Care Minister, wrote to Licensee on March 9.
“At this stage of the pandemic, we can move from state directives that require mandatory immunization policies to homes to a guidance-based approach that continues to support homes with employer-led policies and best practices.”
Extendicare, Chartwell, and Sienna, the three major long-term care chains in the state, told Canadian press that they are maintaining mandatory vaccination policies.
Extendicare and Sienna policies require staff to receive two doses.
Chartwell spokeswoman Sharon Ranallisaid maintains the company’s policy and says, “We will continue to consider future changes.”
The city of Toronto said it will continue to implement the two-shot vaccination policy required for all workers and new employees, including municipal care facilities.
Donna Duncan of the CEOOntario Long-Term Care Association said late last week that housing is “in the process of confirming vaccine policy” after the state announced the change.
“Many homes had established vaccine obligations for staff and new employees prior to the state directive, and we expect much to continue,” she said in an email statement. I said in.
More than one-third of all COVID-19 deaths in Ontario are among caregivers.
The sector was devastated by thousands of deaths and outbreaks early in the pandemic before vaccination became available in late 2020.
Before the state decided to mandate vaccines in this sector last summer, a group of leading Canadian care providers, including Chartwell Retirement Residences, Extendicare, Responsive Group Inc., Revera Inc. and Sienna Senior Living, Their workers.
Dr. Samir Sinha, Dean of Geriatrics at Sinai Health in Toronto, said small homes can struggle to maintain a compulsory vaccine policy due to the lack of legal resources to defend.
“The biggest concern is that it’s not really a big chain. Ironically, it’s actually a small, non-profit, public business with legal means to defend itself against claims. I don’t think so. “
Advant Age Ontario, CEO of local governments and nonprofits, reiterated Sinha’s concerns, saying it was “premature” for the government to deauthorize.
Lisa Levin strikes a balance between the responsibility of housing to protect residents and staff and the potential need to protect themselves from costly legal claims from staff who have lost their jobs because they have not been vaccinated. He said he was trying to take.
“It puts the house in a very tough position,” she said.
AdvantAge provides members with some general legal advice, she said. Some have decided to maintain a triple vaccination policy, while others are still requiring workers to be vaccinated twice.
Other pandemic rules have been lifted in this area as mandatory immunization policies recede. Starting Monday, all general visits can be resumed at the care facility, including those from children who are too young to be vaccinated.
The number of visits inside the house can be expanded to four, and there is no limit to the number of people who can visit outdoors. Residents are allowed to go on overnight trips and no longer need a cohort for social activities.
Other than long-term care, the state has lifted vaccination certification rules and capacity restrictions in most public places. As of Monday, hospitals, schools and day care facilities will no longer require vaccination policies and the state mask obligation will be lifted next week.
Coupled with the end of vaccination obligations in long-term care, Shinha said protection rollbacks put vulnerable residents at greater risk if community cases surge again or if another variant emerges. Said that.
“If this were a castle, we would literally take the drawbridge down and leave it unprotected again,” he said.
“We are deeply worried that we are facing another catastrophic wave in these settings.”
Also ending on Monday is the requirement that the care facility report monthly staff vaccination status data. Housing is required to report vaccination data for residents.
This report by Canadian Press was first published on March 14, 2022.
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