G.8.14 COVID-19 Vaccination for Paramedics

PURPOSE

Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB Paramedic Services is committed to health and safety and recognizes the importance of COVID-19 vaccinations for Paramedics. The purpose of this policy is to outline the parameters and expectations related to COVID-19 immunization, including the tracking of vaccinations received, the documentation process for those who have a medical contraindication to COVID-19 vaccines, and the education required for those declining vaccination to support them in making an informed decision.
 

APPLICATION

Primary Care Paramedics, Community Paramedics, Paramedic Superintendents & Paramedic Students
 

RISK STATEMENT

To protect vulnerable patients and staff in settings where the risk of contracting and transmitting COVID-19 and its variants, the Chief Medical Officer of Health has issued a directive mandating Paramedic Services to have a COVID-19 vaccination policy for Paramedics. The vaccination policy, at a minimum, will require staff to provide proof of one of three things:

1. Full vaccination against COVID-19;
2. Provide a medical reason with supporting documentation for not being vaccinated against COVID-19;

OR

3. Completion of a COVID-19 vaccination educational session.
    

PROCEDURE

1. It is strongly recommended that all front-line Paramedics receive a COVID-19 vaccine unless it is medically contraindicated. It is important that Paramedics make an informed decision about whether or not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. All Paramedics must complete one of the following three (a, b or c) options:

   1. Full vaccination with an approved COVID-19 vaccine with documented proof uploaded into CERT’n;

      OR

   2. Provide written proof of a medical contraindication by submitting a COVID-19 Vaccination Medical Exemption Form completed and signed by their physician or nurse practitioner that indicates:

      • that the person cannot be vaccinated against COVID-19; and
        
        AND
         
      • the effective time period for the medical reason (i.e., permanent or time-limited). The Deputy Chief will follow-up with all staff who have submitted a time-limited medical note
        
        OR

   3. Complete a mandatory COVID-19 Vaccine Learning Package. At completion of the Learning Package, the Paramedic must choose to either:

      • book an appointment for vaccination
        
        OR
         
      • complete the COVID-19 Vaccination Declination Form found in CERT’n.
         

2. If a front-line Paramedic does not provide proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in accordance with paragraph 1(a), but instead relies upon the medical reason described in paragraph 1(b) or the educational session at 1(c), the Paramedic shall:

   1. submit to regular rapid antigen point of care testing for COVID-19 and demonstrate a negative result, at a minimum, once every seven (7) days. For Full-Time employees this would be completed on the first of five (5) concurrently scheduled shifts and then again on the first of the two (2) concurrently scheduled shifts (or vice versa) within each pay period. For Part-Time employees, this would be completed once in Week 1 of the pay period and once during week 2 of the pay period ensuring no more than 7 days between tests.

   2. provide verification of the test and results within Operative IQ under the designated field for Rapid Antigen Tests at shift commencement.
       

REFERENCE

CMOH’s Directive #6 for Public Hospitals within the meaning of the Public Hospitals Act, Service Providers in accordance with the Home Care and Community Services Act, 1994, Local Health Integration Networks within the meaning of the Local Health System Integration Act, 2006, and Ambulance Services within the meaning of the Ambulance Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. A.19. Issued under Section 77.7 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA), R.S.O. 1990, c. H.7

National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). COVID-19. Retrieved 12­07-2021, from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/immunization/national-advisory-committee-on-immunization-naci.html

Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (Public Health Ontario), Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee. Interim guidance on infection prevention and control for health care providers and patients vaccinated against COVID-19 in hospital and long-term care settings. Toronto, ON: Queen’s Printer for Ontario; 2021.