KDH introduces mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for visitors

Effective October 18, 2021, Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) will implement a new policy that makes it mandatory for all visitors to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The policy is intended to maximize the safety of KDH patients and staff and is consistent with the hospital’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy for staff and aligned with the provincial implementation of vaccination requirements for a variety of other settings.

As of October 18, all visitors to KDH will be required to show their second dose vaccine receipt plus a piece of photo identification or the Ontario government’s enhanced vaccine certificate with official QR code (available for any individual to download starting October 18 at 6am).

The policy notes that certain exceptions may be made on compassionate grounds and/or when the presence of a caregiver is required.

“At KDH we understand how important it is for patients to have family members or friends at their bedside,” said Frank Vassallo, the hospital’s CEO. “By requiring those visitors to be fully vaccinated, we know that we are doing everything in our power to protect our patients, as well as our staff and physicians who so devotedly care for them.”