COVID-19 vaccinations halted for residents in Surrey long-term care home after outbreak

SURREY (NEWS 1130) — Tammi Sinniah’s mother lives at Peace Arch Hospital Foundation Lodge in Surrey and after a COVID-19 outbreak was declared on Dec. 3, she says communication with her family has been lacking.

“We found out through the media. In fact, we did not receive official communication until December 9,” she says.

After repeated phone calls to the care home, Sinniah finally learned the extent of the outbreak and that things had not improved.

“Currently there are 21 residents and 14 staff infected. Luckily, my mom has continued to test negative for COVID-19 but many other families can’t say the same,” she said.

Starting Jan. 2, residents and staff at Peace Arch Foundation Lodge began receiving the vaccine but not in the area where the outbreak was located.

Third floor without vaccine despite outbreak

Sinniah’s mother lives on the third floor where the outbreak was active, but it was decided the healthy residents on the third floor would not get the shot.

“They vaccinated people on other floors and the staff,” she says. “For some reason they are deciding not to vaccinate people who have been in close contact. Our argument is these people are most vulnerable.”

Sinniah is frustrated because, on top of a lack of communication from the care home and Fraser Health Authority, she says Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry planned to prioritize people in exactly her mother’s situation.

“I just want the province to stand behind their word and protect our most vulnerable citizens.”

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That word she referred to is from Dr. Henry’s daily update from Dec. 29, where she states the focus remains on long-term care homes.

“The focus was on making sure we can try to protect people in long-term care that are having outbreaks so that the outbreak doesn’t expand rapidly and we can protect people as best as possible,” she said at the time.

However, Dr. Henry said the procedures and targets are subject to change over the coming weeks depending on how B.C. residents behave.

“These types of decisions will be tweaked on a week by week basis depending on how we progress in the next few weeks,” Henry said. “So, this is why it’s so important that all of us do what we need to do right now to stop transmission.”

Cold comfort for Sinniah who says she feels helpless as the situation drags on with her mother and others on the third floor not getting the vaccine.

“So the people who are the most vulnerable and closest to a potential exposure are being left to just sit there. The way COVID-19 transfers between people, it’s just a matter of time until they contract the disease.”

NEWS 1130 has reached out to Fraser Health and the Ministry of Health