(Cleveland, OH) - The MetroHealth System now joins the American Medical Association, American Nurses Association, American Hospital Association, Ohio Hospital Association and other organizations that have recently urged hospitals to require vaccinations.
Accoridng to a press release, MetroHealth is requiring employees, contractors and volunteers, to receive COVID-19 vaccinations by October 30, 2021.
“Protecting caregivers against COVID-19 is the right thing to do,” said MetroHealth President and CEO Akram Boutros, MD. “Our profession has been hailed as heroic because we were there when there was no protection from this disease. We cared for people and put ourselves at risk. We don’t have to do that anymore. We can and have to take care of our patients and ourselves.”
Vaccine requirements for health care employees are nothing new. MetroHealth already requires annual flu vaccinations, as well as measles, mumps and rubella vaccinations as a condition of employment.
As of now, more than 80 percent of MetroHealth’s staff is already vaccinated.
Like the flu vaccine, there will be exceptions for those who cannot be vaccinated for medical or religious reasons.
“We stand united to keep our patients, staff, and community safe by giving the best protection possible against COVID-19,” said Amy Ray, MD, Medical Director of Infection Prevention. “Every employee in our organization deserves the greatest protection available so that every patient who crosses our doors can be assured of safety.”
All new and current employees must be fully vaccinated or receive a medical or religious exemption by October 30. Like with the flu vaccine, those who refuse the vaccine, will be subject to disciplinary actions, including termination.
(Copyright, iheartMedia, 2021)