Outbreaks in senior homes may continue despite vaccines, experts say, but risks to residents are low
While vaccines have mostly pushed COVID-19 out of senior homes, continued outbreaks suggest we may live with the virus for some time yet.
Vaccines might not eliminate COVID-19," said Amit Arya, a palliative-care physician and assistant clinical professor at McMaster University. We still have to follow infection control protocols ... in a resident and family-centred fashion."
Though Arya and other experts say vaccines mean outbreaks now pose a low risk to senior home residents, questions remain on how long vaccines will remain effective, including against new variants.
We're going to have to remain pretty vigilant," said Andrew Costa, an associate professor at McMaster University.
Hamilton reported three active outbreaks in local long-term care and retirement homes as of May 25 at 3 p.m. The biggest is at Heritage Green Nursing Home in Upper Stoney Creek with 10 staff cases. At St. Joseph's Villa in Dundas, there are two resident and two staff cases. The third is at Northview Seniors Residence in Gibson neighbourhood, with two staff cases.
In an email, the Ministry of Long-Term Care said Heritage Green had fewer than five" staff cases as of Wednesday morning. Heritage Green did not respond to questions for this story.
An estimated 87 per cent of staff in local long-term care had received at least one dose as of May 20, according to provincial data posted by the city. But vaccination rates may vary by home. All Hamilton residents of long-term care are estimated to have received at least one shot.
Provincially, 88 per cent of staff in long-term care had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as of May 26, with 53 per cent fully vaccinated, according to the ministry. Uptake among residents is at 97 per cent fully vaccinated.
Thirty-three out of 626 Ontario long-term-care homes were in outbreak as of Wednesday morning. Fewer than 100 staff and 50 residents are infected in total, according to the ministry.
Outbreaks may occur by chance - someone was at the wrong place at the wrong time - or they could signal gaps in public health measures, Costa said. But it's hard to know without an inspection, and even then, you might not get the full story.
The larger the outbreak, the more scrutiny," said the expert on clinical epidemiology and aging. He added that continued spread could mean fewer staff are vaccinated in a home. Also, homes with more beds are more likely to have a case than a smaller homes.
On the flip side, outbreaks could also mean a home is testing more frequently.
Not all homes are equal and not all outbreaks are equal," said Costa, who sits on the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table's congregate care group. But, he says, the risk of death is low.
Hamilton public health will perform an inspection to ensure Heritage Green is complying with provincial directives and observing best practices for infection prevention and control, said an email statement from spokesperson James Berry.
Public health is working with" the home to make sure appropriate corrective action is taken, as necessary," he added.
Arya said there's still a need to address working conditions for senior home staff, including improving staff levels, access to paid sick leave and ensuring agency staff are vaccinated.
Laura Tamblyn Watts, CEO of seniors' advocacy group CanAge, also called for improved vaccine access for staff who haven't yet been inoculated, including through in-home clinics.
Every person that works, visits or lives in long-term care needs to be vaccinated."
Maria Iqbal is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator covering aging issues. Reach her via email: miqbal@thespec.com.