Hospital moves to 'vaccination or termination' policy for workers

Sault Area Hospital says an updated policy requiring workers to be vaccinated or face termination is being put in place for the safety of the community and everyone who passes through its doors.

Prior to Monday, the hospital had been requiring all workers to be vaccinated or to test for COVID-19 regularly. The policy has now been adjusted to require everyone to be vaccinated.

About 95 per cent of the 1,766 active employees at SAH are fully vaccinated, said Brandy Sharp Young, manager of communications and media services.

“At this time, we are working with approximately 70 of our 1,766 active employees, who remain not yet vaccinated,” said Sharp Young. 

”The addition of mandatory vaccination for all health care workers at SAH will further strengthen safety measures to protect our patients, health care workers, and our community,” she added.

Sharp Young said the hospital has been working with employees who are not fully vaccinated ‘to understand their concerns and provide education on the importance of being vaccinated in preventing the spread of COVID-19.’

Active hospital workers who are not yet vaccinated have until Nov. 22 to receive their first dose.

“Those who do not yet have their first dose on November 23, 2021, will be terminated with cause,” said Sharp Young.

The hospital will continue to allow for Human Rights Code exceptions for medically contraindicated individuals and others, said Sharp Young.

The Ontario Nurses’ Association is not informed of the personal health information of its members, like vaccine status, said Sheree Bond, media relations officer for the union.

In a policy statement shared with SooToday, ONA recommends that health care workers receive the vaccine if they can and supports education and addressing vaccine hesitancy, not penalizing and terminating nurses.

It also expects all employers to comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and take every precaution reasonably necessary to protect the health and safety of workers, including the use of N95 masks, physical distancing and other public health measures.

The union supports regular testing, reassignment or other measures for employees who do not receive the vaccine.

The policy states ONA will deal with individual situations of declining the vaccine under the provisions of the collective agreement, provincial laws on consent, and the Human Rights Code.