HHS planning to implement Provincial Government’s COVID-19 vaccination directive

Today, the Ontario government issued a COVID-19 vaccination directive affecting all hospital staff, physicians, volunteers and on-site learners. Hamilton Health Sciences will comply with the provincial requirement mandating COVID-19 vaccination policies in hospitals. Work is underway to implement these policies by September 7.

HHS is currently caring for 22 COVID-positive patients, with seven within the ICU. Our ICU is at 87 per cent capacity, with our overall adult occupancy at 97 per cent.

As there continue to be more cases in unvaccinated individuals – including children under the age of 12 who are not yet able to be vaccinated – everyone who is eligible to receive the vaccine is encouraged to do so as soon as possible.

We continue to strongly recommend that everyone within HHS  be vaccinated. Approximately half of HHS staff and physicians have self-reported their vaccination status. Of these, 85 per cent are fully vaccinated. Being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is the best prevention against serious illness, hospitalization and death.

Our hospital remains a safe place for care. We continue to have multiple infection control practices in place, including the use of proper personal protective equipment, screening of all staff, physicians, patients and caregivers, maintaining social distancing where possible and good hand hygiene practices.