NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — The New York-Presbyterian hospital system announced Friday that it will require all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, unless they have a valid exemption.
The hospital system, which employs 48,000 workers, says all employees will be required to receive at least their first dose of a vaccine by Sept. 1.
Applications for medical or religious exemptions will be due by Aug. 1, hospital officials said. Those granted exemptions will be frequently tested for COVID-19.
“We care for sick people – some critically so – every day, and we are responsible for their safety while in our care. The stakes in this matter are high, and the evidence is clear that getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the most important and responsible action we can take as NYP team members for the safety and well-being of our patients and visitors, our communities, and ourselves,” Dr. Steven Corwin and Dr. Laura Forese, the president and executive vice president of the hospital system, said in an email to staff.
Dr. Forese tells WCBS 880’s Peter Haskell that the hospital system will be in contact will all hospital staffers who are vaccine hesitant.
“We’ll be redoubling our efforts to give everyone all of the education and information they need to be able to say ‘yes,’” she said.
The hospital network notes about 70% of staff are now vaccinated against the virus.
New York-Presbyterian will now become the first heath care system in New York State to mandate vaccinations for staff members.
“We feel it’s the right thing to do for our patients and for our team members,” said Dr. Forese.
The hospital network, in an email to staff, stressed that vaccinations, or exemptions, “will be required for your continued employment.”
“We want all of our team members to continue working with us, but we have to balance that with the imperative to protect our patients, employees, and communities,” Dr. Forese and Dr. Corwin wrote in their letter.
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