Fully vaccinated health care workers in Chatham-Kent can again start working at multiple sites like they did before the pandemic changed the workplace rules in the area.
Chatham-Kent Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby said there is no longer a need for local health care employees to be restricted to one workplace. Colby said several directives and orders were put in place early in the pandemic because many health care workers were employed by more than one organization before COVID-19 cases started surging at long term care homes and hospitals. The orders and directives restricted the number of workplaces for staff in an attempt to decrease the risk of spreading COVID-19 between sites.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has upset the working lives of the vast majority of employed citizens, spanning across all types of industry in Chatham-Kent. Health care workers, who have been vital to the successful management of the pandemic, were not exempt," said Colby.
Colby said he believes restricting the number of workplaces for fully vaccinated health care workers is no longer needed because of the low rates of COVID-19 within Chatham-Kent and the rising vaccination rate of the population both locally and provincially.
Colby said it's a recommendation and the onus is still on the employee to ensure they are abiding by any existing workplace policies and procedures at their place or places of employment.
"All health care workers are encouraged to become fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible to protect themselves, their patients, and health care system capacity," he added.
In March, Colby said only about 50 per cent of local long term care workers had received at least one dose and even less had two doses. Colby noted at the time that he was frustrated that he hadn’t been able to convince more long term care workers to get vaccinated.
“We’ve done our best to educate the population. It’s a frustrating situation and I’m out of ideas,” Colby said. “I’m really hoping that number will go up substantially. I’ve done my best to dispel any rumours or worries that the vaccines that Health Canada has approved are unsafe or untested because they’re very safe and thoroughly tested.”
The amount of staff at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) immunized is much higher, according to Colby and CKHA President and CEO Lori Marshall.
“I’m hoping the long-term care workers realize the people who they’re looking after that are vaccinated are doing very, very well and are healthy and happy and they decide they’re going to get it as a result,” Colby added.
On Monday, Chatham-Kent Public Health reported 68 per cent of the population 12 and older have received at least one dose and 22 per cent have two doses. The percentage of residents with a second dose is up considerably from the eight per cent just two weeks ago.
Public health officials would like to remind the public that they are considered “fully vaccinated” two weeks after their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccination appointments can be booked online at www.GetYourShotCK.ca or by calling 519-351-1010 and leaving a message. The health unit said it may take up to seven business days to return a call because of the extremely high volume of calls.
The health unit also said Wednesday's appointments at the mass vaccination clinic at the John Bradley Centre in Chatham will be affected because this week's shipment of Pfizer shots has been delayed. Health officials said youth ages 12-17 with an appointment will still receive Pfizer vaccines on Wednesday but adults 18 and older will be vaccinated with Moderna mRNA vaccine, which health officials noted is a similar vaccine to Pfizer and is interchangeable. Chatham-Kent Public Health added no appointments need to be cancelled and the remaining Pfizer appointments scheduled for Thursday, June 24, Friday, June 25 and Saturday, June 26 will not be impacted by the shipment delay and will continue as planned. Adults who don't want a Moderna vaccine on Wednesday must reschedule their appointments.
Chatham-Kent has seven active cases as of Monday.