Pembroke Regional Hospital makes full COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for visitors, caregivers
A new mandatory vaccination policy at the Pembroke Regional Hospital is coming into effect Oct. 15, requiring nearly all visitors and caregivers to be fully vaccinated.
"I think the decision point was that we are looking after the most vulnerable people in our organization," says Sabine Mersmann, Senior Vice-President, Clinical & Support Services at the Pembroke Regional Hospital.
Mersmann adds that the decision was made as a whole by all the hospitals who are part of the Champlain Integrated Health Network.
"We have a mandatory vaccination requirement for staff, physicians, and any contractors," Mersmann tells CTV News Ottawa. "We felt it was only right to ensure that our visitors followed on the same road."
For families like the Mackie's who are expecting a new family member soon, it is a policy they can get behind - but one that might not come soon enough.
"It makes me feel more safe," says Jen Mackie. "We're about to deliver in about a week, so it makes me feel a lot safer knowing that anyone around should be vaccinated."
"Everybody has had the opportunity, so unless you have a medical exemption, why," adds her partner Josh. "Why can't you get vaccinated?"
There is a list of eight groups of people who are exempted from the new policy:
- Individuals under the age of 12
- Those who have a documented medical exemption
- Those visiting patients at the end-of-life
- Labour and Delivery (Essential caregiver can be unvaccinated. All visitors must be vaccinated.)
- Parents of children under 16 who are receiving care
- Emergency Department (one support person per patient.)
- Individuals who are essential to accompany patients to appointments or participate in care planning discussions
- Other critical or urgent circumstances requiring family presence
When asked about the long list of exemptions, Mersmann said the hospital was trying to be more considerate following the constant strain of the pandemic.
"What we wanted to consider is people who are in an emergency situation," explained Mersmann. "We don't want to put an extra pressure on those people to say, 'Oh my goodness, now I can't go in with my child who is really sick.'"
And while there are some who are pleased with the new incoming vaccination policy, there are others who are not, and feeling targeted.
"For me, that I have to go get double vaccinated to be able to access something that is public, it's our right," says Ken Bertrand, who was attending the hospital for a check-up, and adds that he is not yet vaccinated.
"I really have a hard time with it. Because I'm not a bad person right, but I'm singled out if I'm not double vaccinated."
Currently the hospital is allowing one essential caregiver and one visitor per patient, but Mersmann is hoping for more.
"The full-vaccination effort really will lead to an ability for us also to open the policy even more."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre unrepentant over calling Trudeau 'wacko' as his MPs say Speaker should resign
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he does not regret calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'wacko,' and now his MPs are renewing calls for the House of Commons Speaker to resign, this time over ordering the Official Opposition leader to leave the chamber.
Is it cold, flu or norovirus? Symptoms explained
The highly contagious norovirus is spreading across Canada, with some symptoms overlapping with other viruses. CTVNews.ca spoke with a health expert to find out how you can tell you have norovirus, the most common form of stomach flu, and what to do if you have it.
Ontario's police watchdog continues probe of high-speed pursuit involving fatal crash
The investigation continues into a collision that killed two grandparents and their infant grandchild during a high-speed police chase on the wrong way of Highway 401 east of Toronto.
Stranded cruise passengers in Spain race to catch up with their ship
A month after eight Norwegian Cruise Line passengers were stranded in Africa when their ship left without them because they were late getting back, a U.S. couple – ages 84 and 81 – were also left behind by the cruise line in Spain.
London Drugs expected to give update on store status following 'cybersecurity incident'
Days after dozens of London Drugs locations closed due to a 'cybersecurity incident,' a spokesperson for the company says an update on the stores' status is expected Wednesday morning.
No criminal charges after 4 newborn bodies found in Boston freezer
A prosecutor in Massachusetts won't seek criminal charges against anyone, two years after four newborns were found in a freezer in a South Boston apartment.
Anger can harm your blood vessel function, study shows
Stress and anger can have a negative impact on cardiovascular health, studies have shown. New research points to just how the mechanism may work.
Freeland leaves capital gains tax change out of coming budget implementation bill, here's why
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation will be the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
Ontario woman surprised after 20-year-old fines suddenly tank credit score
An Ontario woman says that she was shocked when fines from 20 years ago suddenly tanked her credit score last week, but the situation may not be as unusual as it seems, according to at least one debt expert.