More than 99 percent of all staff at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) have complied with the hospital’s mandatory vaccination policy.
However, a few have not and have paid a price for their decision.
According to an OSMH official, there are currently 13 staff members on unpaid leaves of absence due to non-compliance with the policy.
In addition, two unvaccinated team members were terminated with cause earlier this fall for failing to adhere to the mandatory testing requirements.
Staff must have their full series of COVID-19 vaccinations by Nov. 30. If they don’t, they will be terminated with cause.
As far as credentialed staff - doctors, midwives, dentists and select nurse practitioners - there is a 100 percent compliance rate at OSMH.
The number of terminations at OSMH is lower compared to other local hospitals.
Georgian Bay General Hospital in Midland recently announced that 17 employees had been terminated. Six were terminated with cause for non-compliance with the mandatory vaccination policy while 11 employees were terminated for failure to comply with testing requirements.
Overall, the Midland hospital has a compliance rate above 99 per cent for its staff.
In Barrie, 39 employees at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) lost their jobs for not complying with COVID-19 vaccination and testing policies.
Another three professional staff are also no longer connected to the Barrie hospital.
Of the 39 staff members who were terminated, 16 were either registered nurses or registered practical nurses and mostly casual, temporary or part-time employees. The remainder were largely support positions.
In addition, three of the 576 professional staff, which is largely doctors as well as dentists and midwives, are no longer connected to the hospital. The privileges of one of the credential staff are currently being suspended and there was one resignation. A third is being accommodated under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
OSMH announced on Sept. 1 that, in conjunction with 13 partner hospitals across the region, a mandatory vaccination policy for all OSMH team members was being put in place.
“Patients and families expect those who take care of them to be vaccinated,” Carmine Stumpo, OSMH’s president and CEO explained in a media release at the time.
“Many of our team members will also be greatly relieved and reassured to know their colleagues are fully vaccinated.”
-- With files from BarrieToday and MidlandToday
