Mandatory vaccinations for healthcare workers

8 pm Eastern | 5 pm Pacific 

They are the “frontline heroes “ of the pandemic. They were also first-in-line to be offered the Covid vaccine when it became available. So, it comes as a bit of a “??? “ when health care workers in Canada are still not rolling up their sleeves.

Ontario and Quebec both had announced mandatory vaccines for those workers, who are after all, working with Covid patients. Now both have backed off saying it would lead to thousands leaving the healthcare sector, and potentially leading it to a collapse, although neither provided any detail on their claims.

We know there have been thousands of cancelled procedures and tests that were scrubbed because of Covid. But, as the last line of defence against the virus, it might seem strange that these workers would refuse to be inoculated, if not to protect themselves, then perhaps their patients or their families. In this case, we’re talking about those who are not allergic to the ingredients in the vaccine.

Our poll question this week asks:

Should healthcare workers be vaccinated against Covid to keep their jobs?

• Yes = 15.5%
• No =  83.7%
• Unsure = 0.8%

We would like to remind you that you can “cast your vote” on this topic and then email your MP to tell them why.

Guests:

1. Doris Grinspun, CEO, Registered Nurses Association of Ontario
2. Marty Moore, Lawyer, Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedom
3. Colleen Flood, University Research Chair in Health, Law and Policy, uOttawa

References:

• https://globalnews.ca/news/8376304/covid-vaccine-refusal-termination-poll/
• https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/11/15/quebec-judge-rules-provinces-abandoned-health-care-vaccine-mandate-is-legal.html
• https://angusreid.org/covid-firing-booster/
• https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/government-supply-firm-employee-loses-bid-to-halt-federal-vaccination-policy
• https://www.mcgill.ca/facmed-alumni/article/shelter-twitter-storm
• https://www.cmaj.ca/content/cmaj/early/2021/11/09/cmaj.211839.full.pdf
• https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-quebec-judge-rules-provinces-abandoned-health-care-vaccine-mandate-is/
• https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-quebec-wont-mandate-covid-19-vaccination-for-workers-in-schools/
• https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/canada-mandatory-vaccines-covid-19-healthcare-workers-1.6111486
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0196655321002741
• https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-experts-argue-why-making-vaccinations-mandatory-doesnt-necessarily/
• https://www.jccf.ca/mandatory-covid-vaccine-faqs/