A mandatory vaccination policy will soon be implemented at Kenora’s Lake of the Woods District Hospital, affecting both visitors and staff.
On November 11, hospital leadership and its Board of Directors approved implementing a mandatory vaccination policy that applies to all hospital staff, professional staff, volunteers, visitors, learners, contractors and service providers across all of their sites.
As of December 1, 2022, all visitors and essential care partners will be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination to visit their facilities.
“Our hospital and professional staff have worked tirelessly to protect our communities and those we serve throughout the pandemic, and they also deserve protection and support to enable them to do their jobs safely,” says President and CEO, Ray Racette.
“Moving to a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy addresses these risks to the best of our ability.”
Hospital leadership notes that the majority of Ontario’s hospitals have implemented mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies.
Racette has reported that hospital staff had a 96 per cent vaccination rate when they were offered their first dose of the vaccine in April.
Earlier this month, Ontario Premier Doug Ford refused to implement a mandatory vaccination policy for healthcare workers across the province, but Ontario hospitals have been mandated to develop their own vaccination policies for staff members.