Editor’s Note: In advance of the ‘Save our Healthcare Workers’ Jobs‘ protest planned for the afternoon of Saturday Oct.23 in Barry’s Bay, St. Francis Memorial Hospital (SFMH) has released the following.

Statement from Julia Boudreau, CEO, St. Francis Memorial Hospital

Protecting our staff, physicians and vulnerable patients is our top priority. Getting the vaccine, which data has shown to be safe, is essential to ensure that everyone working or receiving services or care in our hospital environment is protected from COVID-19. The vaccination policy we have put in place, under Directive #6 from the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health, is in line with the majority of hospitals in the province. Should it result in leave for staff who make the choice not to be vaccinated, contingency plans are in place to protect and maintain programs and services, as well as a safe working environment for all.

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FAQs: Mandatory health care worker COVID-19 vaccination

What is the COVID-19 vaccination policy at St. Francis Memorial Hospital?

The SFMH COVID-19 vaccination policy, which took effect on September 7 (per Directive #6 from the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health), makes vaccination mandatory for staff, physicians, students, contractors and volunteers.

In stage 1, the hospital indicated that it would reassess staff vaccination rates on October 15. In stage 2, an update was issued requiring mandatory vaccination by October 31.

The goal of the policy is to achieve 100 percent vaccination of our staff and physicians.

Is SFMH policy in line with other hospitals in our region?

SFMH policy is consistent with partners across our region and, in fact, the majority of hospitals in the province, and may soon be mandated for all health care workers by our provincial government. The SFMH policy was endorsed by our regional hospital Chiefs of Staff, was reviewed by a regional ethicist and is based on scientific evidence.

What is the scientific evidence?

Data from Ontario show that COVID-19 vaccination is effective and, based on that evidence, the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table supports the mandate for all hospital workers to be vaccinated. The data show, for example, that vaccination reduces the risk of catching COVID-19 and the risk of serious illness due to COVID-19. (For more details see https://doi.org/10.47326/ocsat.2021.02.49.1.0)

What supporting information was provided to staff to help them make an informed decision?

Staff and physicians have been supported to make their own decision to get vaccinated or not. Since vaccines became available, SFMH has shared extensive information with staff about the availability of vaccination clinics, benefits of vaccination, and available supports, including scientific-based evidence, local Human Resources and Occupational Health & Safety support, Employee Assistance Program supports, consultation with local physicians, consultation with medical experts, and consultation with our regional ethicist.

What is the current vaccination rate at SFMH?

SFMH’s priority throughout the pandemic has been staff, physician, and patient safety—as a hospital, it is at the core of what we do. We would like to assure the public that already 90 percent of our staff and doctors are vaccinated and that all students, volunteers and contractors must also be vaccinated.

Why are Ontario hospitals in support of mandatory vaccination for all health care workers, when it could mean staff shortages due to unpaid leave for unvaccinated staff?

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated health care workers pose a patient safety risk with the potential to introduce COVID-19 in the hospital setting and/or transmit the virus to vulnerable patients and workers. Mandatory health care worker vaccination will help to stabilize and protect the hospital workforce and ensure fewer absences due to illness or self-isolation, so that hospital operations and patient care are not disrupted. Consistent provincial policy covering all hospitals will make all hospitals safer for patients and health care workers and reduce the threat of prolonging the pandemic.

Hospital workers are wearing full PPE—isn’t that enough?

PPE can help mitigate the risk, however, vaccination is the best tool we have against COVID-19. Data has shown that eight weeks after COVID-19 vaccination in health care workers, outbreaks in acute care and long- term care in Ontario were reduced by 89% in long-term care residents and 79% in long-term care health care workers.

If patients are vaccinated why is it necessary for all health care workers to be vaccinated?

Some patients are not able to be vaccinated, may have a weaker immune response to the vaccine, or have underlying conditions and are therefore more susceptible to a COVID-19 infection if they are exposed.

Is this setting a new precedent?

Vaccine policy for health care workers is not new. Mandatory vaccination for COVID-19 is consistent with the approach that hospitals are required to take with respect to other infectious diseases. Health care workers in Ontario hospitals must show evidence of immunity for many communicable diseases including measles, rubella, varicella, tuberculosis and others.

What are the benefits of vaccination for health care workers?

No one is at greater risk of contracting contagious diseases or of spreading them than health care workers: vaccination helps to protect patients, health care workers, their families and communities.

The vast majority of new COVID-19 cases are in the unvaccinated^*. The sooner we’re all vaccinated, the sooner restrictions will be eased and we can get back to ‘normal life.’

*Data show that unvaccinated individuals are seven times more likely to catch COVID-19, 25 times more likely to be hospitalized and 60 times more likely to be in the ICU compared to fully vaccinated individuals (Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, September 28, 2021).