Grace Villa has the lowest staff vaccination rate among Hamilton LTCs, ministry data shows
Grace Villa Nursing Home had the lowest vaccination rate among Hamilton long-term-care facilities as of the end of August, according to Ontario data released Friday.
The Ministry of Long-Term Care released statistics Friday afternoon - just as the province made vaccines mandatory in the sector - showing staff vaccination rates at homes across Ontario as of Aug. 31.
At that time, only two-thirds (67 per cent) of staff at Grace Villa had received second doses, with 73 per cent receiving their first dose, according to the data. That was the lowest rate out of the 27 LTCs under Hamilton public health. The east Mountain home was the site of Hamilton's biggest and deadliest COVID-19 outbreak.
The city's highest vaccination rate was at Chartwell Willowgrove, where 92 per cent of staff were double-vaccinated and 95 per cent had one dose. Idlewyld Manor followed with 91 per cent of staff with two doses. Three homes had 90 per cent of staff with both doses: The Wellington Nursing Home, the city-run Wentworth Lodge and The Meadows in Ancaster.
The data is a snapshot and the rates may have changed since the numbers were collected. Provincewide, vaccination rates ranged from as low as 51 per cent to as high as 100 per cent of staff who received two doses.
Asked to comment, the CEO of APANS Health Services, which runs Grace Villa, said the ministry asks homes to report the total number of staff, including those on leaves of absence and who are not working in the home.
This staff number will then negatively impact our overall vaccination rates," Mary Raithby wrote in an email. We continue to educate, support and encourage our staff members to become vaccinated while respecting their right to choose."
Raithby also noted that vaccinations were not mandatory in August."
The second-lowest local rate was at Heritage Green Nursing Home in Stoney Creek, where 71 per cent of staff received their second shots. For first doses, the rate was 81 per cent. The home did not respond to a request for comment Friday afternoon.
Third for Hamilton was St. Joseph's Villa with a 73 per cent staff vaccination rate for second doses and 81 per cent for first doses.
In an email, the president of St. Joseph's Villa said the home's numbers have since increased to 83 per cent of staff with two doses and 88 per cent with one. St. Joe's Villa introduced a mandatory vaccination policy Sept. 20, added John Woods, noting the home will now adjust the policy to comply with the rules the province announced Friday.
The rules mean all staff, support workers, students and volunteers in long-term care must now show proof of both COVID shots or a valid medical exemption by Nov. 15. Those who don't will no longer be allowed inside a long-term-care home. New hires will have to be fully vaccinated or have a medical exemption before they begin work, the province says.
Facilities will also randomly test vaccinated staff, caregivers and visitors to check for breakthrough cases.
Friday's announcement follows an earlier policy from July that gave LTC workers the option to attend an educational session on vaccination in lieu of getting the shot. It led some Ontario long-term-care operators to introduce their own mandatory vaccination policies ahead of the ministry.
Maria Iqbal is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator covering aging. Reach her via email: miqbal@thespec.com