HPHA Board of Directors Finalizes COVID-19 Immunization Policy
September 09, 2021
As per Directive 6, issued by Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, the Board of Directors of the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) has approved the organization’s COVID-19 Immunization Policy. The policy went into effect on September 7, 2021 and goes further than the minimum requirements outlined provincially, requiring 100% of employees, physicians, midwives, students and contractors, other than for narrowly defined medical reasons, to be fully vaccinated by October 28, 2021.
“HPHA’s Board of Directors has been a leader in setting the right tone for staff and patient safety and has been clear that full immunization of all HPHA Team Members is supported,” says Andrew Williams, President & CEO. “Our policy outlines the steps we all need to take, including the consequences if Team Members refuse to comply.”
Effective September 8, 2021 any employee, physician, midwife, student or contractor that elects not be vaccinated, is partially vaccinated or has a medical exemption against COVID-19 vaccination will be required to undergo a mandatory education session along with rapid antigen point of care testing up to 48 hours prior to each shift.
Effective October 28, 2021 those who do not meet the policy requirements will be placed on two-week unpaid leave of absence/unable to exercise privileges. After the two weeks, those that still have not met the requirements will then be deemed to have resigned from their position/privileges.
The fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant, is causing increased case numbers and hospitalizations. Vaccination, along with continued public health measures, is the best way to reduce transmission in order to keep our team members and patients safe.