PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The University of Pennsylvania Health System will require all of its 40,000-plus employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Sept. 1 — the first major employer in the region to do so.
Having developed the mRNA technology underlying the vaccine, Penn Medicine is confident in the science. Plus, more than 1 billion doses have been administered around the world in the last six months, which have proven to be safe and effective.
Balanced against the ravages of the virus, Chief Medical Officer PJ Brennan said the clear choice was to mandate vaccinations.
“Patients are asking us, ‘Are my caregivers vaccinated?’ They’re asking caregivers directly, ‘Are you vaccinated?’ And there have been occasions where they’ve asked their caregiver be switched because they haven’t been vaccinated,” he said.
The system’s chief legal counsel studied the law and concluded the requirement as being on firm legal ground.
Penn will make some accommodations for employees who request an exemption, but it will consider discipline for those who simply refuse.
Dr. Drew Weissman, whose research made the vaccine possible, supports the decision. He noted flu vaccines are already required to protect patients.
“Requiring COVID-19, which is more transmissible and present at much higher rates, I think is a smart thing to do,” he said. “We’re never going to get rid of it unless we vaccinate enough of the population.”
Penn Medicine has administered more than 500,000 total doses to staff, patients and other members of the community.
So far, all employees and clinical staff have been offered the vaccine, and 70% are fully vaccinated.
Penn Medicine said it hopes to set an example for the region, but so far the university itself is not following suit, nor its competitor, Jefferson Health.