RNAO pays tribute to the thousands of nurses and other health-care workers who are serving Ontarians over this Thanksgiving long weekend.

While many Canadians will celebrate with a Thanksgiving dinner, nurses and other health-care workers will continue to care for persons in hospitals, long-term care homes, their homes and on the streets of this province.

RNAO‘s top priority in August was to urge the provincial government to mandate vaccination for health-care workers, teachers and education staff, as well as implement vaccine passports  for all eligible Ontarians. Our media activity reflects that purpose. The announcement of a vaccine certificate system on Sept. 1 demonstrates the power of speaking out.

RNAO has led the call for mandatory vaccination of workers in health-care and education and has pushed for enacting vaccine certificates in the province. Mandatory vaccination is already under way in key sectors, but much work remains. We are calling on the Ontario government to make an announcement on vaccine certificates on Monday.

RNAO action

RNAO has led the way in advocating for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for health-care workers in Ontario. There is strong and growing evidence about the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines in preventing serious illness and hospitalization, as well as in reducing transmission of the virus.