LONDON — NDP MPP Peggy Sattler (London West) asked the premier on Thursday why his government has failed to implement an across-the-board vaccine mandate for health care workers. The premier's decision has left a palliative care patient in Stratford without the home care she needs.
During question period Thursday, Sattler raised the story of Diane Sims, a palliative care patient who relies on multiple home care visits a day, and whose doctor recommended she be seen only by vaccinated staff due to her fragile condition.
"Diane's home care agency was unable to ensure that only vaccinated workers come into her home. As a result, Dianne's husband has been caring for his wife completely on his own, without help from home care workers," Sattler said.
"There is no across-the-board mandate in place for health care workers, which means we'll see unvaccinated PSWs leaving long-term care — where vaccines are required — to work in home care. More vulnerable people like Diane will have to choose between losing their home care, or inviting a potentially unvaccinated person into their home.
"Ontarians already had to wait far too long for the government to bring vaccine mandates to long-term care. If the premier doesn’t finish the job by making vaccines mandatory for all health care workers, he’s simply emboldening unvaccinated employees to work in home care — and condemning people like Diane to make a dangerous and painful choice.”
Government's refusal on mandatory health worker vaccine leaves palliative patient without home care
Published on October 7, 2021