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
Signs of Alzheimer’s were everywhere. Then his brain improved
Blood biomarkers of telltale signs of early Alzheimer’s disease in the brain of his patient, 55-year-old entrepreneur Simon Nicholls, had all but disappeared in a mere 14 months.
Box tree moths have infested Ontario and experts say more are coming. Here's what to do to protect your garden
An invasive moth species is on the rise in Canada and, if you've planted a certain shrub, it could stand to ruin your garden.
Lyon-bound Air Canada Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from Montreal turns back midflight due to pressurization alert
Passengers heading from Montreal to Lyon, France on Friday were forced to return home and depart the next day after a pressurization indication was detected in flight.
Oilers dominate Canucks, win to force deciding Game 7
The Edmonton Oilers avoided elimination from the NHL playoffs Saturday night, beating the visiting Vancouver Canucks 5-1 in Game 6 of their second-round series.
The eight most expensive homes for sale in Ottawa this spring
Ottawa's ultra luxury housing market is blooming like the tulips this spring, with a significant increase in the number of homes sold worth more than $2 million.
B.C. pipeline company argues its 'haulers' are not trucks, for tax purposes
A contractor working on the Coastal GasLink pipeline has been denied more than $333,000 worth of tax rebates because pieces of machinery it purchased – and claimed were not trucks – were deemed sufficiently truck-like in B.C. Supreme Court.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Usyk beats Fury by split decision, becomes undisputed heavyweight champion
Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury by split decision to become the first undisputed heavyweight boxing champion in 24 years.
To plant or not to plant? Gardening tips for May long weekend
May long weekend is finally here, and with the extra time off you may be getting the itch to head out to your garden and plant. However, the old debate whether you should plant now, or wait, is still ever-present.