Another resident dies at Macassa, while other LTCs make vaccination mandatory
Despite reporting a second death in its COVID-19 outbreak on Monday, there are no plans to mandate vaccinations at Macassa Lodge.
A resident in their 80s died at the city-run long-term-care home, after another in the same age group died last week after testing positive with the virus. A ninth staff case was also reported Monday, bringing the total outbreak case count to 20.
As of Friday, 87 per cent of Macassa staff were fully vaccinated, with 92 per cent partially inoculated, said spokesperson Jacqueline Durlov in an email.
As of now, Macassa Lodge is not implementing additional vaccination mandates above what is mandated by the province," Durlov said.
Since July 1, provincial rules have required all LTC workers to show proof of vaccination or medical exemption, or attend an educational session on vaccination. The policy has been criticized for stopping short of making vaccinations mandatory for staff.
Other long-term-care homes have already gone beyond the provincial policy. On Sept. 15, non-profit seniors' care group AdvantAge Ontario announced a coalition of 15 frustrated" non-profit and municipal seniors' homes were making vaccinations a condition of employment."
In Hamilton, Idlewyld Manor and St. Peter's Residence at Chedoke, both run by Thrive Group, were on the list. The policy will be subject to legitimate medical or other exemptions" and will go into effect Thursday, but workers will have a window of time to get vaccinated, said Renee Guder, the non-profit's senior administrator.
At Idlewyld Manor, 210 of 227 staff have received both doses. Six more have received one dose. At St. Peter's Residence at Chedoke, 241 staff out of 278 have received both shots, with 18 more who had one dose, Guder added.
Evidence supports that unvaccinated staff are more likely to bring the virus to work," she said, noting the policy is intended to improve safety and resident quality of life by reducing the need for outbreak restrictions, including family visits.
She added that to improve uptake, Thrive Group offers transportation to vaccination appointments, paid time off for vaccinations, translated information and education through its pharmacy, physicians and supervisors. Many residents, families and staff have expressed support for mandatory vaccination, Guder said.
While we recognize that this may be difficult for some, we remain confident that this is the best way to maintain the safety of all who enter our doors," she said.
In August, a different group of major seniors' care operators announced that any staff, including agency workers, not fully vaccinated by Oct. 12 will be placed on an unpaid leave of absence. The operators included Chartwell Retirement Residences, Extendicare and Revera Inc., all of which have facilities in Hamilton.
In a release, the coalition said it didn't expect the policy to affect staffing levels.
At Extendicare Hamilton, 91 per cent of staff are fully vaccinated, said spokesperson Laura Gallant in an email, with 94 per cent partially vaccinated. She noted that Extendicare offers education sessions, one-on-one conversations and paid time for vaccination appointments to remove barriers.
Since the operator announced the policy on Aug. 25, more than 1,500 staff members received a first or second dose across Extendicare's facilities. Asked if staff would eventually be let go if they didn't comply with the policy, Gallant said after being placed on an unpaid leave of absence from Oct. 12, the policy would be reviewed monthly.
Revera did not respond to questions about its homes' vaccination rates or how the operator is planning to implement the policy or remove barriers to vaccination. But in an email, spokesperson Larry Roberts said the vast majority" of Revera employees are fully vaccinated.
Revera is encouraged by the positive and supportive response we have received from our employees, our residents and their families to the mandatory vaccination policy," he added.
Chartwell Retirement Residences didn't provide Hamilton-specific information, but said 97 per cent of staff across the operator's LTCs and retirement homes Canada-wide have received at least one dose. Information on fully vaccinated staff was not provided.
In an email, spokesperson Sharon Ranalli said once the unpaid leave of absence goes into effect for unvaccinated staff, depending on the circumstances, continued refusal to comply with our vaccination policy will result in their employment ending."
This has been done with much thought, consideration and legal guidance on how to enhance protection against the virus," she said. We actively monitor our staffing levels and have strategies in place to mitigate any disruption from this policy."
Maria Iqbal is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator covering aging. Reach her via email: miqbal@thespec.com.