People living in private and independent seniors’ residences (RPA) must now travel to receive their vaccines against COVID-19 and influenza.
The Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS) of Montérégie-Est has put an end to the practice established during the pandemic which consisted of offering systematic vaccination on site in all RPAs in its territory.
According to the spokesperson for the CISSS de la Montérégie-Est, Caroline Doucet, the establishment has decided to return to its pre-pandemic model which favors mobile vaccination for the most vulnerable people.
“This approach allows us to vaccinate a particularly vulnerable clientele who cannot travel within a time frame offering maximum protection for the entire respiratory virus season, which was not possible within the framework of the systematic tour of all private residences for seniors in the area,” she explained to La Relève.
“Our teams go to residential centers, intermediate resources for seniors, RPA care units and also visit users who receive home support services, many of whom remain in RPA,” mentions- she said.
“The RPAs were all informed last June and communications were sent in September, October and November. We also reminded, on these occasions, that residents whose physical condition does not allow them to travel to be vaccinated can make a request to the CLSC in their area for this purpose,” she adds.
Professional reviews
However, this change in strategy has attracted criticism. Doctor Claude Rivard, a family doctor from Sainte-Julie, believes, for his part, that vaccination should be offered to all RPA residents when a visit is planned.
“If you are already there to vaccinate 20 or 25 patients in a care unit, why not take the opportunity to vaccinate everyone?” he told -.
According to him, not vaccinating residents deemed autonomous could lead to complications. “If 10% of residents cannot get vaccinated, we will find them in the emergency room in January. The money saved in November will be spent on hospital care a few months later.”
- also reports that Dr. Rivard wrote directly to the CEO of the CISSS to express his disagreement with this decision.
Not a question of economics
“It is not a question of economics or respecting our budgets, but rather of offering this service to the most vulnerable people who cannot travel as a priority with the professionals we have available,” specifies La Relève Ms. Doucet.
The territory of the CISSS de la Montérégie-Est has nearly a hundred RPAs welcoming approximately 9,900 people. In the Boucherville, Varennes, Sainte-Julie and Longueuil sectors, there are 30 RPAs bringing together some 4,000 residents.
Ms. Doucet emphasizes that “the population can obtain these vaccines at local service points or in local vaccination clinics. Appointments are also available this week. In addition, people aged 75 and over were able to make an appointment as a priority from October 1 to 16.”
