Thread by @globeandmail

A recent surge of #Delta variant-fuelled COVID-19 outbreaks at seniors homes across Canada is amplifying concerns that unvaccinated health care workers are contributing to the spread of the virus.

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Experts say anything less than national, mandatory #Covid_19 vaccination policies puts the frail elderly in seniors’ homes at risk of catching the virus from those individuals responsible for their care.

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British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec have made vaccination a condition of employment for health care workers. Other provinces, including Saskatchewan and Ontario, are giving the option to get vaccinated or tested regularly for COVID-19.

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Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada's two hot spots, are struggling with a crush of unvaccinated COVID-19 patients. Outbreaks in long-term care in Alberta soared to 103 from 61 in one week, according to data from the province.

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LTC homes in B.C. began declaring a new outbreaks in late July and early August.

“It was almost all unvaccinated workers who were bringing it in,” B.C. Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie said. Recent outbreaks have started with vaccinated staff, she said.

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CMA president Katharine Smart said political leaders need to move beyond the personal choice narrative on vaccinations, because that stand has consequences for everyone else in society.

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“We really feel strongly that people have a right to expect safety, and the only way to ensure that is to have all the [health care] workers vaccinated against COVID-19,” Dr. Smart said.

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“It’s not reasonable to think that you can put the people who you’re caring for at risk to something that’s this deadly,” Dr. Smart said.

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