Hospitals across the region are cracking down on unvaccinated staff.
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance CEO Lori Marshall says CKHA, along with hospitals in Sarnia, Leamington, and Windsor, have released a joint 100% mandatory vaccine policy for staff, going above and beyond direction from the Province.
“COVID-19 cases are increasing rapidly across the community and across the province, the most severe impacts are affecting those who are unvaccinated,” Marshall says. “We believe as a health care organization, CKHA must do everything we possibly can to create a safe place for people to receive their care, to work, and to practice in. Vaccination is the best defence against a very persistent virus.”
As of Thursday afternoon, CEO Lori Marshall said the vaccination rate at CKHA was 86%. Less than 50 employees have received their first shot, but not their second.
Chief Nursing Executive Meredith Whitehead says so far reaction from staff has been relatively positive.
“What we’ve heard so far is what we would expect, which is a little bit of hoping for some details we don’t have yet as the policy is under development,” Whitehead says. “I would say the majority are very positive, they’re happy that their colleagues and themselves will all be at the same level of protection.”
At this point, each hospital will release its own timelines to reach the 100% vaccination rate.
For now, effective Tuesday, September 7th, the hospital will be moving forward with the provincial directive of vaccination unless exempt for medical reasons, regular testing, or education on the benefit of the COVID vaccine.
There are currently 1335 people employed by CKHA.
Marshall says she hopes they won’t lose any staff as a result of the new policy, but believes it is in the best interest of staff, patients, and the community at large.