Some employees at Health Sciences North (HSN) may face disciplinary action for not following COVID-19 mandatory vaccination protocols.
It was a month ago on Sept. 1 that all medical staff, learners, volunteers and new hires were to be fully vaccinated in order to work at the hospital. All learners and volunteers are fully vaccinated, said HSN.
HSN also said based on the latest available data, more than 92 per cent of current employees and medical staff are fully vaccinated. Those who have only received the first dose now account for two per cent of employees.
HSN said 5.6 per cent of the hospital team have declined vaccinations after completing mandatory education and 0.2 per cent were provided a medical exemption.
For comparison purposes, the Sudbury hospital has several thousand employees.
“We are the regional tertiary care centre for Northeastern Ontario, with 4,000 dedicated and resilient employees, 600 highly-skilled medical staff and scientists, 2,100 learners and 700 active volunteers,” said the HSN communications office.
“HSN has 16 sites in Greater Sudbury and an additional 25 sites across Northeastern Ontario where staff provide care and information technology supports.”
HSN said employees without full vaccinations are required to undergo rapid antigen testing and provide results twice a week.
"We currently have approximately 70 people who have not yet provided their rapid antigen test result this week,” said HSN.
“Conversations will occur with them in the coming days. If they do not provide test results twice per week, they may eventually be deemed unfit for work and suspended without pay.”
HSN also said the Ontario vaccine passport regulations should eventually lead to an increase of those who are fully vaccinated.
"We are confident that the provincial requirement introduced on Sept. 22 to provide proof of vaccination status to access certain businesses and settings will lead to an ongoing increase in full vaccinations," said HSN communications.
