ProMedica mandates COVID-19 vaccine for employees
ProMedica recently updated its vaccine policy for employees, stating all health care workers must receive the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by Dec. 5 2021.
ProMedica Director of Public Relations Tausha Moore said this change was prompted by the federal directive that came from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Nov. 5 this year, stating that all health care workers be fully vaccinated by early January. The policy change notice was sent to ProMedica employees in Monroe on Nov. 19.
In a statement sent to The Monroe News, Moore said that the majority of ProMedica’s healthcare employees have already received the COVID-19 vaccine, but no specific numbers were given. Moore said that out of the employees who have not yet been vaccinated, some were concerned about the short timeline provided by the federal requirement.
In order to accommodate their employees, Moore said ProMedica is offering convenient vaccine access through multiple clinics at the hospital that offer both mRNA vaccines and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Moore said employees that have reached out were appreciative of the options provided so they can make a choice based on their preferences.
The statement released to ProMedica employees requires them to receive their first dose of either Pfizer or Moderna, or the single dose of Johnson & Johnson no later than Dec. 5, 2021, and the second dose by Jan. 4, 2022, if they opt to receive either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Requests for exemptions must be submitted by Nov. 29 and approved by Dec. 5. The notice states that any employees who do not meet these deadlines will be unable to work until they are in compliance with the vaccine requirement policy.
Moore said that a small number of employees have expressed concern with the federal requirement, but ProMedica is hopeful they will choose to move forward with the vaccination.
“Evidence-based research has established the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine and demonstrated its ability to decrease the spread and severity of the disease,” said Moore.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: ProMedica mandates COVID-19 vaccine for employees
