To the Leadership of St. Joseph’s Health Centre

We, the undersigned staff, residents, families, and community members, respectfully request that you remove your policy for the Covid Vaccine from your long term care homes in Sudbury and Chelmsford for staff, students, and volunteers.

Concerns:

 1. Outdated and Insufficient policy: This policy is no longer aligned with current public health guidance and the ministry of long term care cancelled it in 2022 All other homes in the area have cancelled it.

 2. Disruption of Care: Policy enforcement does not prevent COVID-19 outbreaks and contributes to disruptions in residents’ routines and care.

 3. Staffing Impact: Shortages of staff and volunteers reduce the availability and consistency of resident care.

 4. Student Barriers: Students are unable to complete placements, limiting their healthcare career development.

 5. Family Participation: Families’ ability to volunteer or support residents is restricted for those unable or unwilling to comply.

6. Simply doesn’t make sense. Visitors come and go freely without vaccination yet the same visitors cannot as a student or staff

The Centre’s core values of Dignity, Excellence, Service, and Integrity are challenged by the mandate:

 • Dignity: Excludes individuals based on vaccination status.

 • Service: Limits volunteers and students, reducing care support.

 • Integrity: Maintains a policy not aligned with current public health guidance.

We respectfully urge the leadership to review and remove the COVID-19 vaccine mandate to support residents, staff, families, and students while aligning with the Centre’s core values.