ONTARIO CONSIDERING BOOSTERS FOR NURSING HOME RESIDENTS, STAFF
Aug 13, 2021
By Bob Komsic
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While it’s not prepared to mandate vaccination, the Ford government is strongly contemplating COVID booster shots for residents and staff of long-term care homes.
”I think booster shots are going to be an important part of continuing to protect or long-term care residents,” says minister Rod Phillips, who adds he’s spoken to Ontario’s chief medical officer about it several times.
The Ontario Long-term Care Association this week joined the growing call to mandate vaccination for all healthcare workers.
The long-term care minister’s not sure that’s needed at this time, pointing out that 91% of staff are vaccinated along with 99% residents.
While B.C. has decided to make vaccination mandatory for staff and residents of its long-term care homes, Phillips says there’s no comparing the two provinces.
He adds they’ve got our four times the number of outbreaks.
Phillips reminds everyone that changes are coming to Ontario’s Long-Term Care Act, likely this fall.
”Accountability, enforcement and transparency will be the focus of that legislation.”