Long-term care workers claim they’re being passed over for vaccine
Posted January 25, 2021 7:40 am.
Last Updated January 25, 2021 7:41 am.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Many people who work with the elderly and high-risk populations say they have not been able to get a hold of Alberta Health Services (AHS) to schedule their first COVID-19 shots.
Mark Drury co-owns Comfort Keepers Calgary, a private service helping independent living seniors with their day-to-day tasks.
“They’re in direct contact with seniors and while we’re using full PPE, it’s still a risk there,” said Drury.
Staff visit seniors that live in and out of long-term care and although they are technically included in the first phase of rollout Drury said they have not been able to set anything up with AHS.
“We understand that the vaccine is running short, there’s no way around that. All we’d like to know is that we’re being considered and we’re going to be given fair treatment and we’re going to get it when the vaccine comes in.”
In a statement sent to 660 NEWS, AHS said connecting with private care operators has been challenging and is asking for patience, saying they will be included.
The first phase of the province’s vaccine rollout includes health care workers in ICU, home care workers and all residents of long-term care and designated supportive living facilities.
It’s not just private care workers that are waiting for the vaccine as the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) said despite claims by Premier Jason Kenney that all staff and residents of long term care had received their first shot, many have been left out including four AHS facilities and several others run by Covenant Health.
Continuing-care workers expose UCP lies about vaccine success. “It was pure misinformation that only serves (Kenney's) ego and insults our members’ intelligence.” #AUPE #COVID19AB #AbHealth #AbLeg https://t.co/dNiChbMIkK
— AUPE (@_AUPE_) January 22, 2021
In a release, the AUPE said most of the affected members work in environmental and food services.
“Kenney owes it to Albertans to come clean,” said AUPE Vice-President Bonnie Gostola. “Misinformation is anxiety-inducing and even fatal during a health crisis. Truth won’t inoculate us against COVID, but it will help us see our way through to the other side.”
Gostola added that the vaccine shortage has only added to the anxiety as the province is putting vaccine appointments on hold following a shortage of the Pfizer vaccine announced earlier this month.
