Long-term care home hit by 36% reduction in staff as mandatory vaccination policy takes effect
CBC
Thirty-six per cent of staff at Copernicus Lodge remained unvaccinated as of Monday, as the long-term care home's mandatory vaccination policy came into effect.
The facility — located at 66 Roncesvalles Ave. in the city's west end — announced its mandatory vaccination policy on Sept. 10.
Marla Antia, a spokesperson for the home, said 84 out of a total 343 staff and agency workers are unvaccinated. All 84 are now on unpaid, indefinite leave, Antia said. The province also announced last week that all staff at Ontario long-term care homes must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by mid-November.
"We had a number of people come in over the weekend, even today and on Friday to get vaccinated. So, I don't know if they left it till the last minute or if the government's announcement also maybe prompted people to take that extra step," Antia told CBC news on Monday.
"But I mean, it's not as high as we would like. We didn't want to see anyone leave, but we have been in contingency planning for a long time."
Anita said officials at the home have heard a variety of reasons as to why staff won't take the vaccine, ranging from misinformation to distrust and a perceived lack of testing.
"Yeah, it's tough. You don't want to see anyone leave and it's tough for our residents as well, tough for staff and tough for our managers who are caught in between."
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