ACHIEVE THAT MISSION. >> WE HAVE A DUTY TO PROTECTUR O PATIENTS. >> The Reporter: IN A VIDEO TODAY, THE PRESIDENTND A C.E.O. OF BETH ISRAEL LEAHY LAID OUT TO EMPLOYEES THE REASONS THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO GET VACCINATED ONCE THE F.D.A. FORMALLY APPROVES ONE OF THE TEEHR COVID VAINESCC CURRENTLY IN EMERGENCY USE HERE IN THE U.S. >> MANY OF OUR PATIENTS OF IMMUNOCOMPROMISED OR HAVE CERTAIN UNDERLYING CONDITIONS, KELI CANCER, LUPUS OR ARTHRITIS. FOR THEM, THIS PANDEMIC IS FAR FROM OVER. >> The Reporter: THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O. OF MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM. >> GIVEN THE DATA, GIVEN THE SCIENCE, GIVEN THE INFORMATION WE HAVE, ON THE EFFICACYND A SAFETY OF TSEHE VACCINES, THIS IS THE TIME TO DO THIS.E REPORTER: THE MASS NURSES ASSOCIATION TOLD US IT’S THE RIGHT CALL TO WAIT UNTIL THE VACCINE GETS FORMAL APPROVAL AND EVEN TN,HE THERE MUST BE EXEMPTIONSOR F MEDICAL AND RELIGIOUS REASONS. >> OUR MEMBER NEEDS TO BE PART OF OUR DECISION MAKING, WTHA THEY CALL THE GOVERNANCE AND THEY HAVEAY S AND THEY CAN NEGOTIATE THE TERMS. >> The Reporter: THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS HAVE SAID THEY WILL WORK WITH EMPLOYEES TO ROLOUL T THE NEW POLICY. EMPLOYMENT ATTORNEY BOB YOUNG SAYS HE’S NOT SURPRISED TO SEE PRIVATE HEALTH CARE COMPANIES MOVING TOWARD THIS WORKPLACE REQUIREMENT. >> IS,T’ I THINK, COMPELLING ENOUGH, IN THAT PARTICULAR WORK ENVIRONMENT, BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, THE RISK OF EXPOSURE BEING MUCH, MUCH HIGHER THAN IT WOULD BE IN AN OFFICE SETTING. >> The Reporter: THIS LIKELY WON’T KICK IN UNTIL LATER THIS YEAR. PROBABLY SOME TIME THIS FL.AL THESE HOSPITALS AGAIN REMINDING THEIR EMPLOYEES TODAY A
Advertisement
Major Massachusetts hospital systems will require all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19
Mass General Brigham and Wellforce
Updated: 5:38 PM EDT Jun 24, 2021
Some of Massachusetts’ biggest hospital systems announced Thursday they will require all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.The mandates issued by leaders of Mass General Brigham, Beth Israel Lahey Health and Wellforce will apply to all staff, including those who don’t work directly with patients. Vaccinations will be required once one or more of the coronavirus vaccines receive the full approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Both Pfizer and Moderna are in the process of seeking that approval.Those vaccines, and the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, are currently being administered under an Emergency Use Authorization. “The evidence of COVID-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness is overwhelming,” said Anne Klibanski, President and CEO of Mass General Brigham. “Getting vaccinated is the single most important and responsible step each of us can take to put an end to this devastating pandemic and protect patients, families, and each other.”Both Mass General Brigham and Wellforce said the majority of their employees are already vaccinated. Hospital leaders said the requirement will protect their vulnerable patients.”We do not support mandating a vaccine that is still under emergency use authority, and we are glad to see the industry agrees and will not mandate the vaccine while under emergency designation. Appropriately, medical and religious exemptions must be included,” the Massachusetts Nurses Association said in a statement emailed to WCVB.
Some of Massachusetts’ biggest hospital systems announced Thursday they will require all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
The mandates issued by leaders of Mass General Brigham, Beth Israel Lahey Health and Wellforce will apply to all staff, including those who don’t work directly with patients.
Advertisement
Vaccinations will be required once one or more of the coronavirus vaccines receive the full approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Both Pfizer and Moderna are in the process of seeking that approval.
Those vaccines, and the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, are currently being administered under an Emergency Use Authorization.
“The evidence of COVID-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness is overwhelming,” said Anne Klibanski, President and CEO of Mass General Brigham. “Getting vaccinated is the single most important and responsible step each of us can take to put an end to this devastating pandemic and protect patients, families, and each other.”
Both Mass General Brigham and Wellforce said the majority of their employees are already vaccinated.
Hospital leaders said the requirement will protect their vulnerable patients.
“We do not support mandating a vaccine that is still under emergency use authority, and we are glad to see the industry agrees and will not mandate the vaccine while under emergency designation. Appropriately, medical and religious exemptions must be included,” the Massachusetts Nurses Association said in a statement emailed to WCVB.