infections among unvaccinated staff are causing outbreaks, phillips said. there were nine outbreaks in long-term care homes wednesday.
that’s why the government is being forced, belatedly, to mandate vaccination.
more than 15,600 residents of long-term care homes in ontario have been infected, and more than 3,800 have died.
nursing home staff here were among the first people in the province to be offered the vaccine starting last december because of the high number of cases.
yet, last may, then-local medical officer of health dr. wajid ahmed was still begging them to get the shot.
“all these long-term care home staff, if you’re still waiting for the vaccine, please go and get your vaccine,” he pleaded.
it’s hard to understand why health-care workers refuse to get a potentially life-saving vaccine during a global pandemic. or why the government doesn’t require them to get it.
moore said last week that his “next priority” is vaccination rates in hospital staff. he’s getting daily updates “to ensure that we’re making progress.”
some hospitals, including all three here, aren’t waiting. they already require staff to be vaccinated.
but those who provide home care and health-care workers in clinics still don’t have to be vaccinated, either. so we’re left with a confusing patchwork of policies.