COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for all Providence Care staff

News Release

Date: September 7, 2021

COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for all Providence Care staff

Providence Care is joining the growing list of hospitals and other healthcare organizations in Ontario, and enacting a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy for staff.

All staff working at Providence Care Hospital, Providence Manor, Providence Transitional Care Centre, and any of Providence Care’s community-based mental health and support services sites must be vaccinated by Oct. 22, 2021, unless they have a documented exemption.

“Getting vaccinated remains the single most effective public health measure to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and the highly contagious Delta variant,” said Cathy Szabo, Providence Care President & CEO. “Cases are starting to rise again and as a regional healthcare provider we have a duty and responsibility to do everything in our power to protect the health and safety of the people we serve and our staff.”

The safety measure aligns with the new directive released by the province last month mandating healthcare employers to implement strict COVID-19 vaccination policies by Sept. 7, including having staff disclose vaccination status.

“To date 86 per cent of Providence Care employees have provided proof of vaccination, but under this new directive we need to know the vaccination status of everyone,” explained Krista Wells Pearce, Providence Care’s COVID-19 Incident Command Leader. “All current Providence Care employees have been informed of our new mandatory COVID-19 vaccine protocol. We’re giving them until Oct. 22 to receive their second dose. Failure to do so could ultimately lead to unpaid leaves of absences or termination.”

Under Providence Care’s new policy all current unvaccinated staff must get their first dose no later than Sept. 21, and their second dose no later than the Oct. 22 deadline. This phased approach ensures anyone who has not yet been vaccinated has the necessary time to receive both doses.

Employees have until Sept. 28 to provide proof of vaccination of their first vaccine dose or documented exemption, and until Oct. 29 to provide proof of having received their second dose.

Until then, all unvaccinated or partially vaccinated staff, as well as individuals who have yet to disclose their vaccination status must now undergo weekly COVID-19 testing.

“As we head into the fall we can’t take any risks,” said Wells Pearce. “We need to implement every protective measure we can to navigate through the fourth wave of the pandemic. We also need to do what’s best for our staff and the vulnerable people we serve. We have patients, clients and residents who depend on us daily, and we have an obligation to provide them safe, high quality care.”

Providence Care is doing everything it can to reduce transmission of the virus. Full vaccination is already a requirement for students doing clinical placements at any Providence Care site, as well as all volunteers and any new hires.

All contractors and vendors providing services in, at, or on any Providence Care site must also be fully vaccinated.

Quick Facts

• All Providence Care staff working across Southeastern Ontario must be vaccinated by Oct. 22, 2021, unless they have a documented exemption.
• All current unvaccinated staff must get their first dose by Sept. 21, to receive their second dose by the Oct. 22 deadline.
• Staff has until Sept. 28 to provide proof of vaccination of their first vaccine dose or documented exemption, and until Oct. 29 to provide proof of having received their second dose.
• Effective immediately, all unvaccinated or partially vaccinated staff, as well as individuals who have yet to disclose their vaccination status must now undergo weekly, at minimum, COVID-19 testing.

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About Providence Care:
Providence Care is Southeastern Ontario’s leading provider of specialized care in aging, mental health and rehabilitation. The organization operates Providence Care Hospital, Providence Transitional Care Centre, Providence Manor long-term care home, and more than 20 community-based mental health and support services across the region. To find out more about Providence Care, visit ProvidenceCare.ca or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For more information, contact:
Nikki Jhutti
Communications Officer, Providence Care
Phone: 613-544-4900 ext. 53372
Email: jhuttin@providencecare.ca or info@providencecare.ca