ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - One the largest hospital systems in the St. Louis area is touting that nearly 100% of its workforce is vaccinated for COVID-19. However, those who haven't received vaccines are expected to be let go today.
All employees who weren't vaccinated or received an approved exemption were placed on a 28-day unpaid suspension with full benefits, starting Oct. 1. Mercy announced the vaccination requirement in July.
Mercy says all but 2% of its employees – about 800 people – have either received the vaccine or an approved exemption. Workers received a religious or medical exemption, but will undergo masking and protective equipment protocols and frequent testing.
“We prepared for this and knew we would unfortunately lose some of our co-workers,” said Jeremy Drinkwitz, president of Mercy Hospital Joplin. “Patients come to us to get better, not to catch an illness. Our communities trust Mercy to do the right thing and to take care of them. We’ve seen firsthand what COVID does to people, and we’re not going to be a part of spreading it further or putting lives in danger in our hospitals and clinics where we live.”
The Mercy health system includes more than 40 hospitals and 700 clinics in Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas.
As of today, all current and future Mercy co-workers are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved medical or religious exemption.
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