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More Hastings County long-term care workers have received COVID-19 vaccinations with just weeks remaining before the month-end deadline.
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About 95 per cent of workers in the county’s two care homes have full vaccination, new statistics show.
By Nov. 2, 15 of the nearly 500 workers had yet to provide proof of vaccination or a valid exemption as required by the county’s vaccination policy. All county workers have until month’s end to do so or face potential job loss, the policy states.
Long-term care director Debbie Rollins said Friday more employees have sought vaccination.
“There are still opportunities for individuals to receive it. I’m hoping that more will come around, and we are seeing that,” she told The Intelligencer.
The latest statistics available were those as of Nov. 10. Rollins said 98.26 per cent of workers in Hastings Manor in Belleville had received two doses. At Hastings Centennial Manor in Bancroft the figure was 91.72 per cent.
More detailed numbers weren’t released in order to protect workers’ identities, she said.
The vaccination rates included people who had yet to complete the required two-week period after a second dose to be considered to have full immunization, Rollins said.
“They’re working that 14-day wait period with a daily antigen test,” Rollins said.
“Any new hires are coming in fully immunized.”
No Manor staff had quit as a result of the police, she said.
Booster shots are being offered to the homes’ residents and workers and some residents’ essential caregivers, Rollins said. Residents and staff have priority and caregivers should book elsewhere whenever possible, she said.
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Ontario has extended its deadline for long-term care workers’ vaccinations from Nov. 15 to Dec. 13 after the National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommended an eight-week interval between doses.
The provincial government released data from all but 57 of the 626 homes showing 98 per cent of staff had received a first dose and 95 per cent had received two. But data from 57 of the 626 homes remained “outstanding,” the government stated.
Funding for care
Ontario has provided funding through March 2022 for more care in the sector. Rollins reported Hastings Manor will receive more than $901,000 for Hastings Manor and almost $392,000 for Centennial Manor.
Most will fund direct care from nurses or personal support workers.
A smaller portion is for care by “allied” workers, such as dietitians, recreation and activities staff.
Rollins said senior staff are studying how best to allocate new hours and positions for direct care but increases could begin within weeks. The allied care funding will mean more recreation aides, a need emphasized during the pandemic. Rollins said each home has a “very low” number of aides. Hastings Manor has four; she’d like to at least double that.
- With files from Antonella Artuso/Postmedia
More Manor staff vaccinated; hours of care increasing soon - Belleville Intelligencer
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