Ontario’s long-term care minister is defending the province’s decision not to mandate COVID-19 shots for nursing-home workers.

Rod Phillips’ comment comes as some of the largest operators introduce stricter policies. Phillips says the province’s policy guidelines for long-term care have been a “great success” so far.

Those rules see employees declare their vaccination status and require regular testing for unvaccinated people who must also take a course on the benefits of immunization.

Phillips says immunization rates among long-term care staff have risen to more than 90% since the rules took effect months ago.

A group of major nursing home chains has announced that unvaccinated staff would be placed on unpaid leave if they don’t get their shots by October 12th.

Long term care residents make up more than one-third of COVID deaths or 3,977.