Ontario health minister says COVID-19 vaccine requirement could be mandated for health-care workers if warranted

Ontario’s health minister says that the Ford government isn’t ruling out making it mandatory for health-care workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, as it did last week for those working in the long-term care sector.

Christine Elliott made the comment during Question Period at Queen’s Park on Thursday morning as she rejected criticism from opposition MPPs over her government’s decision to mandate vaccines for long-term care workers while allowing unvaccinated health-care workers to remain in their jobs so long as they participate in a regular testing program.

“The reality is that the people in our long-term care homes are the most vulnerable, they are the ones where we have seen breakouts happen and that is why the minister of long-term care has created a mandatory vaccine policy to make sure those people are safe,” she said. “But rest assured should we see a similar situation unfolding, and we're watching this very carefully on a daily basis, we won't hesitate to introduce it elsewhere.”

The Ontario government only requires that unvaccinated health-care workers participate in an educational course and regularly test negative for COVID-19.

However, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore has said that about 40 per cent of hospitals have introduced more stringent policies making vaccination mandatory for all employees.