NBRHC places 18 on unpaid leave due to vaccination policy

The North Bay Regional Health Centre has placed 18 staff members on unpaid leave due to its employee COVID-19 vaccination policy.

With the passing of the set deadline of January 10 for staff to present proof of having received their first dose of the vaccine to NBRHC's Occupational Health department, the hospital confirms 18 of approximately 2,300 total staff have been placed on unpaid leave as the administration begins the process of progressive discipline.

Spokesperson Kim McElroy tells BayToday NBRHC "recognizes the importance of immunization to reduce the risk of serious infection and transmission of infection within our hospital community and NBRHC patients."

As of November 2021, 11 staff members had been fired from NBRHC for non-compliance with the policy following what President and CEO Paul Heinrich referred to last fall as a "multi-step vaccination education program and disciplinary warning process," with termination as the final outcome.

See related: Employees fired over vax policy 'made a bad choice' says hospital top boss

In early October, NBRHC implemented and ensured compliance with a COVID-19 vaccination policy for its employees, staff, contractors, volunteers and students. Options for compliance for hospital staff include providing proof of full vaccination by the set deadline, written proof of medical contraindication, or participation in weekly rapid antigen testing.

The NBRHC policy preceded Premier Doug Ford's November 2021 decision to forego implementing a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy for Ontario hospital workers.

"Having looked at the evidence, our government has decided to maintain its flexible approach by leaving human resourcing decisions up to individual hospitals," Ford said.

McElroy advised then, "Ford’s decision does not change anything with our NBRHC Vaccine Policy — in accordance with Directive #6, our policy remains in place."

NBRHC has repeatedly stood by the policy while maintaining it originates from the guidance of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health. The directive states unvaccinated health care workers in higher-risk settings pose "risks to patients and health care system capacity due to the potential (re)introduction of COVID-19 in those settings, placing both health care workers and patients at risk due to COVID-19 infection."