Top doc `disturbed' by rogue distribution of COVID-19 vaccine

Criticism follows reports to health unit of executives, team leaders getting shots

The medical officer of health for Windsor-essex called out some local health-care leaders on Friday for a potentially unethical rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine to people whose turn for the jab may not have yet arrived.

While some long-term care home staff, residents, and essential caregivers — those at the top of the province's priority list for inoculation — may not receive the shot until this weekend, Dr. Wajid Ahmed on Friday said other individuals have undeservedly jumped the queue.

“I am disturbed by the fact that with the limited supply of vaccine, we are throwing away the prioritization and are completely ignoring the ethical framework that is provided to all of us,” Ahmed said during the local health unit's morning news conference.

Some local health-care workers have complained to the Windsor-essex County Health Unit that some individuals receiving the vaccine do not work with patients at all, or work with patients very minimally, he said. He's also heard that some “executives” and “leadership team members” have already received the vaccine, though he wouldn't provide names.

“Vaccines are not for healthcare workers who just want a shot. There's a clear guidance to say … do not prioritize vaccines based on seniority or rank.

“It's not a competition to just … quickly administer the vaccines as quickly as possible. You have to think about the ethics of it.”

Both Ahmed and health unit CEO Theresa Marentette said they have not received the COVID-19 vaccine. The only members of the health unit's staff who have been immunized are about seven of the 12 nurses administering the vaccines inside long-term care homes.

Marentette on Thursday said the province gave the health unit the green light to “immunize the immunizers.”

Leaders of all three area hospitals said their facilities are following provincial vaccination guidelines.

Windsor Regional Hospital CEO David Musyj said some of his leadership team have taken the vaccine, but he has not.

“This absolutely includes a priority to vaccinate willing staff from critical areas of our hospital,” he said. “But this also includes many key leadership individuals who are in our facilities and in contact with patients and colleagues.

“These individuals are critical to the operation of the hospital. We can't lose them in the middle of a pandemic and when our volumes are at or above capacity.”

Janice Kaffer, CEO of Hotel-dieu Grace Healthcare, also has not received a vaccine despite working for weeks on the front lines of a hard-hit long-term care home.

Kaffer, who has a nursing background, has been working on-site at The Village at St. Clair after her hospital took over essential operations where at least 35 residents have died.

Hotel-dieu vice-president of external affairs Bill Marra said 665 of the hospital's 1,260 employees have registered for the vaccine. The hospital is arranging to vaccinate several dozen per day.

Hotel-dieu's vaccine rollout includes “key leadership individuals” and those working in two longterm care and retirement homes in outbreak, he said.

“These individuals are critical to the operation of the hospital, we cannot risk losing them in the middle of a pandemic and when our volumes are approaching capacity, and our teams are deployed across the city and county,” said Marra.

Kristin Kennedy, CEO of Erie Shores Healthcare in Leamington, did not say Friday whether she has received the vaccine.

Erie Shores Healthcare came under fire this week after its public relations director, Arms Bumanlag, posted a picture of himself on Twitter receiving a vaccine shot.

The photo was posted Wednesday but deleted shortly afterward. It sparked anger among some front-line health-care workers waiting to receive a vaccine.

Kennedy issued a written statement Wednesday defending her hospital's vaccination procedures in the wake of a backlash, stating the hospital is “following all guidelines and directives” from the province. She said the vaccine was made available to her leadership team and other staff after it was first provided to front-line workers who wanted it.

In an email on Friday, Kennedy re-sent the statement she issued Wednesday, with one addition:

“I can advise that in accordance with Phase 1 of the plan, no board members were offered nor received the vaccination,” she wrote.

Kennedy did not respond to a followup email requesting more specific information about who received a vaccine.

According to the Government of Ontario's vaccine distribution plan, residents, employees and staff, and essential caregivers at congregate living settings that provide care for seniors, are a key population to receive the vaccine first. Health-care workers are also on that list, as are adults in First Nations, Métis, and Inuit populations, and adult recipients of chronic home health-care.

It's not a competition to just quickly administer the vaccines ... You have to think about the ethics of it.