A month after implementing a COVID-19 vaccination policy for hospital staff, St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital is now doing away with the testing provision and making vaccination mandatory for all employees and surgeons.
This tighter policy means all staff are required to receive their first dose by October 20th and a second dose by November 18th.
Previously, non-vaccinated staff had to test negative prior to coming to work each day.
Those not fully vaccinated by November 18th will be placed on a leave of absence without pay.
President and CEO Karen Davies advises the move to mandatory vaccination is the hospital’s next step as they will not be able to achieve a 100 % vaccination rate without it.
As of Monday, 97 per cent of employees and physicians at STEGH have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
