Fairmount Home to maintain COVID Vaccine Mandate

Jeff Green | Apr 20, 2022

As of Mid-March, vaccine mandates have been lifted throughout Ontario workplaces and retail outlets.

The measure, which was a feature of the province-wide response to COVID-19, in late 2021 and early 2022, had two main purposes. 

It was intended partly to incentivise vaccination among the general public, and mostly to provide protection against the spread of the virus by making it harder for the virus to reproduce itself in people with 1, 2 or 3 doses of vaccine.

There has been a strong uptake in vaccination throughout the province, as it has been shown to be the most effective defense against symptomatic COVID-19. And it has been very popular in KFL&A, where almost 95% of residents over 12 have received at least one dose. 

The Omicron variant has brought an unprecedented level of infection to Ontario since December of 2021. While vaccination has been a major part of the overall defense against Omicron, as it has been shown to diminish the severity of symptoms, it has been less effective in preventing the spread, as it was able to do with earlier variants.

Another measure, the provincial masking mandate, is still in place in congregate settings, including long-term care facilities, and will now remain until at least the end of May

However, the vaccine mandates were lifted on March 21 in all facilities under provincial jurisdiction, including in long term care.

Since then, Fairmount Home has not lifted its vaccination policy for staff, volunteers and visitors, citing advice from KFL&A Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Piotr Oglaza.

In a letter addressed to “Municipal Partners” that was received by Frontenac County on March 31, Oglaza wrote: “currently, at a minimum, all workplaces should have policies that promote and enable COVID-19 vaccination. In addition, those workplaces at higher risk should consider specific recommendations or additional requirements.”

Fairmount Home is now seeking to “work collaboratively with other members of the long-term care sector” said Fairmount Administrator Susan Brant, by joining the “AdvantAge Ontario Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccine Coalition”.

In a report to Frontenac County Council’s April meeting, Brant said that the lifting of the provincial vaccine mandate “does not change the critical importance of vaccination and the MLTC’s [Ministry of Long-Term Care] guidance document continues to promote best practices including offering onsite vaccination, promoting the benefits of vaccination using the latest scientific evidence and incorporating vaccination requirements in long-term care home’s operational requirements.”

She described the 100 year-old AdvantAge Ontario association as “encompassing a large network of not-for-profit long-term care organizations across the province that share a commitment for advancing senior care.”

AdvantAge Ontario has created a members only mandatory vaccine coalition, and Brant is proposing that Frontenac County Council endorse her proposal that Fairmount Home join the coalition.

The principles of the coalition include a mandatory vaccine policy requiring 2 or 3 doses, covering staff, volunteers and support staff. As well, the management team of Fairmount and Frontenac County Council, Fairmount’s governing body, would consent to its name being used in a media campaign regarding the policy. 

A motion to that effect is on the April meeting agenda of Frontenac County Council, which meets this week.

“Given the vulnerability of Fairmount Home residents to COVID, the vaccine mandate is a reasonable measure, at least at this time,” she said in an interview, “and we have broad acceptance from our staff, families, and the union local. Joining with AdvantAge Ontario shows support among the entire sector.”