REMINDER: Deadline to Establish COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

RHRA would like to remind licensees and operators that as required in the Instructions from the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH), all retirement homes must establish a COVID-19 vaccination policy no later than Tuesday, September 7, 2021.

The vaccination policy applies to all staff, contractors, volunteers and students. The policy must be established by September 7 and implemented no later than September 21, 2021.

Retirement homes are required to comply with the CMOH’s Instructions pursuant subsection 27(5)(0.a) of O. Reg. 166/11 under the Retirement Homes Act, 2010 and subsections 2(2.1) of Schedules 1 and 4 of O. Reg. 364/20: “Rules for Areas at Step 3 and at the Roadmap Exit Step” under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020.
 
The CMOH’s Instructions replace the RHRA Recommendation on Retirement Home Staff and Volunteer COVID-19 Immunization Policy and the RHRA Recommendation for Asymptomatic COVID-19 Screen Testing for Retirement Homes.

RHRA will provide further guidance to implement the Instructions shortly, including direction on how and when to disclose the required statistical information to the RHRA. In the meantime, please refer to RHRA’s communication sent to homes on August 31.

If you have questions, please reach out to MSAA at RHinquiries@Ontario.ca or RHRA at info@rhra.ca.