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Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...main-1.5928220
55% of Ontario's nursing home workers opted for vaccine
Vaccine myths, hesitancy and inaccessibility at the root of low numbers
Julie Ireton ? CBC News ? Posted: Feb 26, 2021 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: 8 hours ago
Despite the fact long-term care workers were the first in Ontario invited to get the COVID-19 vaccine last December, a little more than half of them have volunteered to get the shot.
As of this week, only 55,000 of 100,000 long-term care workers in Ontario have been inoculated, according to the province's Ministry of Health.
Dr. Hugh Boyd, chair of the Ontario Medical Association's section on long-term care and care of the elderly, said a lack of confidence in the vaccine and pervasive myths about the quick development and safety of the shot is at the root of the low numbers.
"We do need to put more effort and money and communications into supporting our staff, combating misinformation, [and] improving access," said Boyd.
"We saw a Herculean effort put into vaccinating long-term care residents. So let's take that Herculean effort, and let's get our long-term care staff vaccinated as well."
The mixed messaging around vaccines and their availability hasn't helped, according to Boyd. He said initially these workers were considered priority, then for a time were told to wait when the delivery of doses slowed.
"These are confusing messages," said Boyd...
55% of Ontario's nursing home workers opted for vaccine
Vaccine myths, hesitancy and inaccessibility at the root of low numbers
Julie Ireton ? CBC News ? Posted: Feb 26, 2021 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: 8 hours ago
Despite the fact long-term care workers were the first in Ontario invited to get the COVID-19 vaccine last December, a little more than half of them have volunteered to get the shot.
As of this week, only 55,000 of 100,000 long-term care workers in Ontario have been inoculated, according to the province's Ministry of Health.
Dr. Hugh Boyd, chair of the Ontario Medical Association's section on long-term care and care of the elderly, said a lack of confidence in the vaccine and pervasive myths about the quick development and safety of the shot is at the root of the low numbers.
"We do need to put more effort and money and communications into supporting our staff, combating misinformation, [and] improving access," said Boyd.
"We saw a Herculean effort put into vaccinating long-term care residents. So let's take that Herculean effort, and let's get our long-term care staff vaccinated as well."
The mixed messaging around vaccines and their availability hasn't helped, according to Boyd. He said initially these workers were considered priority, then for a time were told to wait when the delivery of doses slowed.
"These are confusing messages," said Boyd...