While Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) in Barrie has informed its staff they must be fully vaccinated by Oct. 31 or face consequences, Collingwood General and Marine Hospital (CGMH) hasn’t yet pulled the trigger on such measures.
The CEOs and chiefs of staff for 14 hospitals across central Ontario sent a letter to staff outlining their hospitals' shared policy on Tuesday, which includes mandatory vaccination for new employees.
That's in line with a recent directive from the province mandating employers in health and education to have staff disclose vaccination status by Sept. 7 or face the education session and testing requirements.
Collingwood's hospital was not included on the list, however.
“CGMH shares in the collective goal of these hospitals to have a 100 per cent full vaccination rate among its employees, midwives, physicians and credentialed staff, along with learners/students, but at the present time, CGMH’s focus is on understanding the current vaccination status within CGMH, along with establishing an education module and testing process to be put in place by Sept. 7,” Norah Holder, president and CEO of CGMH, told CollingwoodToday.ca on Wednesday afternoon.
RVH's vaccination policy applies to all health-centre employees, including those who’ve been working remotely during the pandemic, credentialed staff, students, contractors and vendors. They must be double-vaccinated by Oct. 31 — unless they have been granted a medical exemption or accommodation under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
According to RVH’s new policy, anyone who chooses to remain unvaccinated after Oct. 31 will be subject to "progressive policies," including unpaid leave and termination for cause, ending of learner placement, and restriction, suspension or termination of privileges for credentialed staff.
At CGMH, Holder says the hospital’s policies may change over the next few weeks.
“The hospital’s plan will continue to evolve in the coming weeks, and is likely to shift to more progressive disciplinary action as we continue to develop and implement the appropriate policies and procedures,” said Holder. “Moving forward, all returning volunteers and all new employees and credentialed staff will need to show proof of full vaccination.”
On Wednesday, the leaders of 14 hospitals in Ontario's central region announced a joint COVID-19 vaccination policy that they say will ultimately lead to unpaid leave or termination for unvaccinated staff.
Hospitals include Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Stevenson Memorial Hospital, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, William Osler Health System, Humber River Hospital, Mackenzie Health and Trillium Health Partners, Georgian Bay General Hospital, Halton Healthcare Services Corporation, Headwaters Health Care Centre, Oak Valley Health, and North York General Hospital.
— With files from Canadian Press and Bob Bruton
