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Ford Not Ready to Make Vaccines Mandatory for Hospital Workers

The Premier says we can't afford to lose qualified staff when doctors and nurses are stretched to the limit and is asking his top experts to weigh in on the issue.

The Ontario Government is not ready to make vaccinations mandatory for all hospital workers in the Province.

Speaking at the verify Ontario launch today, Premier Doug Ford says he is consulting experts on the issue. Several hospitals in Ontario have already implemented their own vaccine mandate. 

Premier Doug Ford explains why the Province is hesitant to make this a Provincial mandate.

"Let me be clear, every hospital worker should be vaccinated and we encourage all of them to get vaccinated and the vast majority already have, but at a time, when our doctors and nurses are already stretched to the limits, especially in northern and rural areas, we can't afford to lose qualified staff."

Ford says outbreaks at hospitals remain a rare occurrence.

"Thanks to the comprehensive infection and control measures, in the past two weeks, there has been two outbreaks in hospitals, involving a handful of cases. That is good news and we call it welcoming news but all told, this is a very complex issue with real risks on either side, risks that need to be weighed against the unattended consequences they may force."

Ford says he asked the top experts in the Province to weight in on the issue. Saying this is an issue we need to get right. Right now in Ontario, around 15% of the hospital workforce is not vaccinated. 

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