And so begin the court challenges by the unvaccinated.

A number of University Health Network employees who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 are expected in court Thursday to challenge UHN’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy.

Last week, Ontario Superior Court Justice Sean Dunphy issued a temporary injunction that paused enforcement of the hospital network’s deadline for immunization but only for staff involved in the litigation.

The temporary injunction expires this week unless an extension is granted.

Dunphy is set to hear arguments Thursday on whether the court has jurisdiction in the matter.

At the same time, Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children placed 147 of its employees across all functions on unpaid leave Thursday after they did not submit proof they received a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the organization’s deadline of Oct. 15.

SickKids spokesperson Jessamine Luck told CP24 that approximately 1.8 per cent of the hospital and research institute’s roughly 8,250 doctors, nurses, researchers, support staff and student trainees – including those working completely from home – are still not vaccinated or have unknown vaccination status and have been placed on unpaid leave.

“One-hundred and forty seven staff members, including corporate, clinical and research staff, both onsite and working remotely, are not fully vaccinated and/or have not submitted complete documentation and have been placed on unpaid leaves of absence.”