The head of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) says the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy stands at her two sites in Chatham and Wallaceburg, even though the Premier of Ontario has decided against making vaccination mandatory for health care workers across the province.
Premier Doug Ford said on Wednesday that he's leaving it up to individual hospitals to make that decision.
CKHA President and CEO Lori Marshall said on Thursday the mandatory vaccination policy makes the hospitals safer.
"We at CKHA stand behind out decision and there will be no change to our mandatory vaccination requirement for health care workers at the hospital. This approach was unanimously supported by our Board of Directors and our Medical Advisory Committee and we believe that with this policy now in place, our potential for outbreaks and service interuptions are greatly reduced and that our community can have the confidence that we've created the most safe hospital environment that we can for all," said Marshall.
Marshall also said she is not aware of any lawsuits being filed against CKHA regarding the new mandatory vaccination policy.
She also noted that less than five hospital staff have been granted medical exemptions and continue to work at the hospital and fewer than five CKHA employees are on leave until the full mandatory vaccine policy requirements are met.
Meantime, Chatham-Kent's top public health official is looking into making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for long term care employees and personal support workers in the municipality.
Chatham-Kent Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby said most local long term care facilities already have a policy making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for their workers, but he has to make sure they are solid.
"We'll just make sure that everything is operating in Chatham-Kent the best way that it can," said Colby.
The province announced last month that COVID-19 shots will be mandatory for all employees at long term care homes beginning November 15, 2021.
Chatham-Kent Public Health is reporting two fewer outbreaks locally. Dr. Colby said the outbreaks at an unnamed congregate living setting and an unidentified workplace have been declared over, leaving three very small outbreaks at Chatham Christian High School, Thamesville Area Central Public School, and another unidentified workplace.
The number of active cases remained the same after five new cases and five resolved cases.
CKHA also reported one Chatham-Kent resident is in the Chatham hospital with the virus but is not in the ICU.
