The province says there are plans in place to help care homes anticipating a staffing crisis when the COVID-19 vaccine mandate comes into effect. 

Last week, a care home in Winkler told families that they will need help in their homes as they prepared for possible staff shortages due to Manitoba's mandate to get two COVID-19 vaccines or undergo regular COVID-19 testing. The serious staff shortage also is leading Salem Home to ask some families to take residents home to care for them.

“Our intent was to open the dialogue to see if this might be an option, or even a preference by families. In the meantime, we continue with contingency planning with all hands on deck to ensure there is adequate staffing in place to deliver quality, safe care," SalemHome CEO Sherry Janzen says in a statement Friday, saying they are working with Southern Health.

Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin says the province has a plan to help care homes affected by this. 

"I think there was a plan in place and there is certainly anticipation of issues with staffing once this mandate took effect," Roussin says in a Monday press conference. "There is certainly anticipation and plans in place."

Roussin asked for those questions to be directed to Shared Heath. 

"We certainly encourage all healthcare workers to be vaccinated. The evidence is clear in that regard or if that is not going to occur, or occur in a timely manner, then we must protect those vulnerable patients by then testing."

The mandate came into effect Monday morning. It is not clear what kind of shortage, if any, these affected facilities are facing now that the mandate is in effect. Shared Health says they will provide an update at the end of the day.

On Friday morning, we emailed Shared Health asking for information on how Shared Health would be supporting Salem Home, and followed up on Friday afternoon. We were told Southern Health would respond by the end of the day. They have not yet responded as of Monday afternoon.

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