It could soon be mandatory for all staff, physicians and midwives with the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
The Board of Directors for the HPHA says they are endorsing all measures to increase rates, up to and including implementing mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations and if 95 per cent of staff are not fully vaccinated by September 30th then vaccines will become mandatory.
Currently 88% of staff, 93% physicians and 89% of midwives have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with 83%, 92% and 81% respectively having received both doses.
HPHA President Andrew Williams says the decision was the right call to make.
“Sometimes the toughest decisions are the right ones to make and we really did feel from a safety point of view that we needed to take the position that if we don’t reach what we think is a reasonable vaccine rate of 95 % that we have to go the next step.”
All unvaccinated HPHA team members are currently required to submit signed confirmation of their current intention to decline to be vaccinated.
Volunteers will also be required to be fully vaccinated when volunteer programs are reintroduced and students, absent of documented medical reasons, will require vaccines.