COVID-19 Vaccine Information
With COVID-19 cases increasing across the province and the higher transmissibility of the delta and other variants, the most severe impacts are for those who are not vaccinated. Along with our Central Region partner hospitals, Waypoint has implemented a COVID-19 vaccination policy in alignment with provincial Directive 6, effective September 7, 2021.
This policy is part of our efforts to safeguard our patients, clients, families, communities and our staff, and requires mandatory vaccination and for proof of vaccination to be submitted to Waypoint. For external contractors this proof is being provided through an attestation process by the contractor. Waypoint is not collecting personal health information of contractors.
Effective November 8, 2021, two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be required for all of the following:
* Waypoint staff, physicians and volunteers (both those working
on-site and remotely)
* Honeywell
* G4S
* Patient/Client & Family Council
* Students and medical learners
* Any on-site partners providing services for Waypoint at Waypoint facilities
Only those with an approved documented exemption (e.g. medical reason) are excluded.
Rapid-testing for non-vaccinated staff, students, contractors, volunteers
Effective September 7, 2021, staff, contractors, volunteers and students who are not fully vaccinated or who have approved medical exemptions to the COVID-19 vaccine, will be required to perform rapid antigen testing, at a frequency of a minimum of twice a week, and confirm verification of negative test results while entering the building as part of the screening attestation process. Testing frequency may increase depending on circumstances and risk.
Individuals who are partially vaccinated (have received one dose of a two-dose vaccine series, or a final dose of a two-dose vaccine series within the last 14 days), should undertake rapid antigen testing until they are fully vaccinated.
Rapid-antigen testing for contractors will be facilitated by their Waypoint contact.
Mandatory education
Anyone who is not vaccinated including people with exemptions will be required to complete Waypoint’s COVID-19 Immunization e-learning. The educational program addresses all of the following learning components:
* How COVID-19 vaccines work;
* Vaccine safety related to the development of the COVID-19 vaccines;
* Benefits of vaccination against COVID-19;
* Risks of not being vaccinated against COVID-19; and
* Possible side effects of COVID-19 vaccination.
Completion of this e-learning is mandatory, and failure to participate in the e-learning by the prescribed date may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.
Failure to meet the requirements of the COVID-19 Immunization Policy may result in inability to attend to duties at Waypoint, and applicable action up to and including termination of contract with the hospital.