“We should be able to make our own decision”: transparency, dialogue, and equity as key values of Ontario based Personal Support Workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

This qualitative study explored how Personal Support Workers (PSWs) experienced COVID-19 vaccine policies in their workplaces and the ethical and social implications of these policies, aiming to inform future vaccine policy to better align with PSW’s needs and values. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 PSWs in the Greater Toronto Area following their participation in a dialogic facilitation session focused on equipping PSWs to lead conversations on vaccines and related policies. One-on-one interviews conducted with participants explored their motivations for joining the session, key takeaways, and perspectives on COVID-19 and vaccine policies. Data were analyzed using interpretive description identifying two major themes: (1) A continuum of perspectives on the vaccine and its rollout, and (2) Aligning policies with community values of transparency, dialogue, and equity. The first theme describes participant’s diverse perspectives on vaccine policies, which ranged from acceptance, to mixed/contradictory views, to a lack of acceptance/skepticism. The second theme highlights participants’ recommendations for future vaccine roll-out initiatives to be grounded in PSW community values of transparency, dialogue, and equity. Our research highlights that future vaccine rollout initiatives must be rooted in PSW community values of transparency, dialogue, and equity to provide space for PSW inclusion and dialogue on these matters. Policy makers must make concerted efforts to include PSW voices, needs, and experiences in future vaccine roll-out initiatives. Further, they must provide PSWs with the necessary information needed to make informed choices regarding vaccine policies, through education and opportunities provided by employers that include PSWs in workplace decisions.