Refusal to be vaccinated: Dube brandishes threat of a break in services
The refusal of some health-care workers to be vaccinated could lead to a breakdown in services in the health-care network, according to Health Minister Christian Dubé, who says he wants to do everything possible to avoid this scenario.
Hence the government's decision to make vaccinations against COVID-19 mandatory for health-care workers, a position that the Minister justified Thursday to a parliamentary committee. He recalled how tens of thousands of workers who interact with vulnerable people, in both the public and private sectors, are still not vaccinated — making the health-care system more fragile every day.
On Aug. 26 and 27, a parliamentary commission is taking stock of the government's decision to impose vaccinations on all health-care workers in contact with patients for more than 15 minutes by Oct.15. It will also assess the possibility of extending this obligation to other categories of workers, including teachers and daycare workers. A total of 17 stakeholders and experts are expected to give their opinion.
Health-care workers who refuse the vaccine despite Quebec's decree will no longer be able to carry out their duties and will be offered an indefinite leave of absence, without pay. And if refusals remain numerous, the impact on the network — especially on patients waiting for surgery — will soon be felt, Dubé warned.
"The worst news we can give to Quebecers is that if many people in the network leave, we will be forced to cut back on surgeries once again. That will be our choice, and it's not our first choice, and that's why we're giving our employees until Oct. 15 to do so," said Dubé, in response to questions from Vincent Marissal, a Québec Solidaire MNA.
In the spring, no less than 140,000 surgeries had to be postponed due to the excessive pressure on the network caused by patients with COVID-19. During the first waves of the pandemic, the network had to offload up to 40% of planned surgeries at certain times.
"We don't want to go there," Dubé commented in a press conference after his testimony to the committee.
"We've seen it in previous waves — when you're short-staffed, what do you do? Unfortunately, we cut surgeries, we cut services that are essential. It is certain that if many people leave, there will be an impact," he said.
In the public health network alone, it is estimated that some 30,000 workers have still not received their two doses of the vaccine. Taking the private sector into account, there could be as many as 50,000 unvaccinated health-care workers. And one infected caregiver "can wreak havoc," said Dubé.
Since the Delta variant took hold in Quebec, daily infections have been rising, as have hospitalizations — a phenomenon that is likely to worsen as the school year begins in the coming days, said the Minister.
"We know that September will be extremely difficult for the network," said Dubé, who described the current situation as "very worrisome."
At the height of the pandemic last year, the health network was missing 12,000 employees, for a variety of reasons. Currently, the situation is less severe, but it is estimated that more than 2,500 employees are absent from work for reasons relating to COVID-19, including more than 130 workers absent because they have contracted the virus and more than 1,500 for preventative reasons.
Arruda: it's the children's turn
The National Director of Public Health, Dr. Horacio Arruda, expressed confidence that children aged zero to 12 years will be vaccinated in the short term. There is currently no licensed vaccine available to this age group, as the current vaccine applies to those age 12 and up.
When asked how he hopes to get 95 per cent of the population vaccinated — the threshold he has set for achieving herd immunity — Dr. Arruda said he is focusing on children.
He said it is only a matter of months before the COVID-19 vaccine is suitable for the province's youngest.
"The vaccination of toddlers, five to 11-year-olds [...] will bring us to levels of herd immunity that will probably prevent the virus from spreading," said the doctor, in response to questions from Liberal MNA Marie Montpetit.
He said that a licensed vaccine for children aged five to 11 should be available as early as October, and a vaccine for toddlers (zero to four-years) should be ready by January.
Public Health is already in contact with the school system to plan the vaccination of children, he said.
On the subject of making the vaccine mandatory for teachers and school network personnel, Dr. Arruda affirmed that "we are not there yet".
--This story was first reported in French by The Canadian Press on Aug. 26.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
Israel says it reopened a key Gaza crossing after a rocket attack but the UN says no aid has entered
The Israeli military said Wednesday that it has reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza, a key terminal for the entry of humanitarian aid that was closed over the weekend after a Hamas rocket attack killed four Israeli soldiers nearby.
Spanish prosecutors recommend 2nd investigation into Shakira's taxes be thrown out
Spanish state prosecutors recommended Wednesday that an investigating judge shelve a probe into another alleged case of tax fraud by pop star Shakira.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.