CCH to Implement Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy
2021-08-27
The Cornwall
Community Hospital (CCH) will require all of its staff, physicians,
contractors, volunteers and students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as
of October 15, 2021.
The new policy,
unanimously approved by the CCH Board of Directors, comes after Ontario’s Chief
Medical Officer of Health issued Directive
#6 on August 17, which set out requirements for healthcare worker
vaccination policies under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.
There has since
been a growing trend both across the province and regionally for hospitals to
adopt policies for mandatory vaccination against COVID-19.
Currently more
than 86% of staff and 99% of medical staff at CCH are fully vaccinated. With
this new policy, the hospital expects every member of its organization to be
immunized, an important step to ensuring the safety of staff, physicians and
patients.
“CCH proudly
cares for some of our area’s most vulnerable patients, such as youth or people
who may come to our hospital to receive chemotherapy, dialysis, and critical
care. They shouldn’t have to worry about contracting COVID-19 or the
vaccination status of our healthcare workers,” says Jeanette Despatie,
President and CEO.
Unvaccinated
staff will have until September 7 to receive their first dose and until October
15 to receive their second dose. By taking a phased approach, CCH is ensuring
that staff who have not yet been vaccinated have the necessary time to receive
both doses.
CCH will also
provide education and consultation on the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19
vaccines to ensure unvaccinated staff are fully informed.
“From the onset
of this pandemic, CCH made a commitment to our staff, physicians and community
that we would do everything we could to ensure their safety. Mandating vaccines
for COVID-19, as we do for other infectious diseases, is simply the right thing
to do,” added Despatie.
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