The Chronicle Herald (Provincial)
No early vaccines for adult residential workers
AMHERST — The president of the union representing workers at adult residential facilities in northern Nova Scotia is speaking out after its members were told they would not be receiving COVID-19 vaccinations like their counterparts in health.
Speaking to the Saltwire Network, CUPE Local 5204 president Michelle Doucet said the CCAS, LPNS and personal care workers who look after adult residents at several adult residential centres around the province, including those in Truro and Amherst, were originally told they would be vaccinated along with health-care workers.
“Back in January we were promised we were going to be vaccinated along with our clients,” said Doucet, whose union represents 33 workers in Amherst. “When March came, we were told it would be April. We were all fine with that because our clients never left the house as we were in lockdown.”
In an update last week, Doucet said staff were confused about when they would receive the COVID-19 vaccine or even if they’d receive it. Upon hearing they won’t, she said, there is frustration and anger that government has let them down.
“It appears we have been taken completely off the list,” she said. “Our clients are getting vaccinated later on, but there has been no date or time on when that’s going to happen. Our concern is we’re no different than the nurses at the hospital or other healthcare workers. Our clients are out in the community, they work and are involved in various day programs at the Bridge Workshop.”
As well, clients often visit with other family members living outside the facility.
The workers are providing 24-7 personal care for clients who cannot or do not practice social distancing and sometimes require up close handon support.
Doucet said the membership is afraid of the potential for a client, even if vaccinated, of bringing the virus back into a residential facility and possibly infecting other clients or staff.
While there is no virus in the community at present, Doucet said the fear remains what could happen in an outbreak.
Doucet and other union leaders have reached out to provincial MLAS asking for help. She said Cumberland North MLA Elizabeth Smithmccrossin has responded to show her support.
She said what’s unfair is the province did move ahead with vaccinating adult care workers in Cape Breton in March, but didn’t follow through with the rest of the province. Some other residential centre staff have also been vaccinated.
“Then the news came out that the rest aren’t being done,” she said.
Doucet said she understands the complexity of supply and demand regarding the procurement of the vaccine, but communication all along was the workers would be vaccinated. To have the pledge broken without explanation is like “a punch in the gut.”
At the start of the pandemic last March, Doucet said workers in the residential care centres were supplying their personal protective equipment, if they could find it in the stores. It was four months later when the province began supplying the workers with the necessary PPE gear.
Marla Macinnis, media relations adviser with Health and Wellness, said the province’s vaccine plan is based on risk.
“Age and/or living in large congregate settings are the primary risk factors for COVID-19 transmission and severe illness and disease. Based on this, participants and staff in all adult residential centres (ARC) and regional rehabilitation centres (RRC) have been included in the initial phase of the rollout,” Macinnis said in an email. “In other Dps-licensed homes, staff will receive their vaccine in the community based on their age. This will ensure that these staff receive their vaccine sooner, rather than waiting for a specialized clinic to be established.”