Huron County, Ontario, Canada.
""They'd rather not have an 'emerge' that's open with a unvaccinated nurse than no healthcare after 6 p.m.""
"According to the updated policy, the vaccine mandate for staff within HPHA hospitals will not be reviewed until November 2025."
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Former nurse proposes solution to CPH overnight closures
BY KATE OTTERBEIN
NOVEMBER 30, 2023
News Today
At last week's Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) public meeting, a former nurse came forward with a proposal to re-open the Clinton Public Hospital (CPH) around the clock.
Jessica Vanderhaar stood up in the packed Libro Hall, saying if nurses who did not receive the COVID-19 vaccine were rehired, the emergency department could, once again, provide 24-hour a day coverage.
"I'm a registered nurse and I worked in Clinton 'emerge' for 10 years," said Vanderhaar. "I was pregnant and I just didn't feel safe getting the vaccine. I was concerned for my unborn child and I was also breastfeeding through that time."
She was on her maternity leave when the initial layoffs happened at the end of 2021. Vanderhaar was let go after she returned.
"It was a blanket policy," she said. "There were no options and there was no considerations to what other health issues you were having at the time, and me being pregnant."
When CKNXNewsToday.ca spoke to HPHA President and CEO Andrew Williams, he said the vaccine policy was recently reviewed and it will not be changed.
"We require any new staff to be vaccinated," he said. "From a hospital perspective, we've been very clear that we put safety at the top of the agenda and we recognize that people who come into the hospital are often compromised. We need to do everything we can to protect them and to protect our team."
Vanderhaar added that with her medical background, she felt it wasn't the right decision for her at the time.
"Because being pregnant puts you in a vulnerable group of people, generally speaking, things aren't recommended to try during pregnancy that are not well researched or well known for side effects," she said. "In the case of the COVID vaccine, I believe it went in the direction of being safe for vulnerable people and it was pushed in pregnancy at one point. I just didn't feel like it was safe given the lack of real evidence."
Williams said during the review process, he spoke to some others about their personal vaccine views.
"I respect individuals who take those positions," said Williams. "As an organization we've been very clear. Our position is that we are firmly behind the fact that COVID vaccines create a safer environment for all."
According to the updated policy, the vaccine mandate for staff within HPHA hospitals will not be reviewed until November 2025.
"It's very frustrating because the whole community of Clinton I think has been frustrated for years," said Vanderhaar. "I feel like [hiring back unvaccinated nurses] is a solution that won't be considered. I think when it comes down to it, especially at this time, people would rather have good quality healthcare than have a nurse that's vaccinated or unvaccinated. They'd rather have an 'emerge' that's open with an unvaccinated nurse than no healthcare after 6 p.m."
Williams said the position HPHA has taken on the matter is the correct one.
"We think the position we've taken is the responsible one and we believe that those who look to us to provide a safe environment, particularly patients, family members, and caregivers, respect and value that position," Williams said.