(WBEN Buffalo, NY) Kaleida Health Senior Vice-President Michael Hughes issuing a warning Saturday night that the organization is following the Governor's rules mandating vaccine shots or face immediate firing.
To that end employees can receive shot today at Buffalo General and Millard Fillmore Suburban.
Hughes says they are working on all requests for religious exemptions.
For Employees Buffalo General will provide vaccines from 6am until 6pm on Sunday and Milllard Fillmore will be open from8-11am and 12-5pm.
This is the full information from Kaleida:
COVID-19 UPDATE
New York State remains on track to enforce its mandate on Monday that all hospital and nursing home employees and providers be vaccinated against COVID-19 (at least one shot) or face immediate termination of employment.
Reminders
Kaleida Health supports vaccination for our employees and providers. It is the best way to keep our patients and workforce safe and healthy.We absolutely intend to safely and compliantly implement the State directive when it comes to ensuring vaccination for our workforce.Kaleida Health has been in continual preparation for the mandate deadline and pushing aggressively to urge all unvaccinated employees and providers to receive the vaccine.We intend to remain open and provide access to our services across the organization where and when possible, acknowledging that we will see some sort of a reduction in our workforce next week.Thus, we are once again reminding everyone that the deadline to be vaccinated is September 27, 2021 at 7 a.m. (for hospitals, long-term care, ambulatory surgery centers, and diagnostic and treatment centers) or October 7, 2021 at 7 a.m. (for home care and adult day services).
Religious Exemptions
In accordance with the Federal court decision and temporary restraining order, Kaleida Health began accepting requests for religious exemptions on September 16. We are processing them as quickly as possible.
All requests for Religious Exemptions from the vaccine mandate must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Sunday, September 26, 2021.They will be processed as soon as possible, but in no event later than 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 29, 2021.Important to note that any religious exemptions that are approved are considered conditional, pending the outcome of the Federal court case on October 12, 2021.While employees' requests are under review, they may continue to work.If an employee's request is not granted, the employee must either immediately get vaccinated in order to work, or they will be terminated on September 30, 2021.If an employee's request is granted, and if an accommodation can be made for that employee (e.g. extra PPE or other reasonable and appropriate accommodation), that employee may continue to work until October 12. We expect the Federal Judge to make a decision on October 12 to either continue or discontinue the religious exemptions. If religious exemptions continue, employees may continue to work as long as the religious exemptions remain in effect. If religious exemptions are discontinued, employees would need to either immediately get vaccinated to work, or they will be terminated on October 13. Vaccine Boosters
As you may have heard, the CDC's director recently endorsed recommendations for a third dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for certain at-risk groups, including those at high risk for occupational or institutional exposure.
Kaleida Health is closely watching CDC and New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) recommendations. Kaleida Health is dependent on NYSDOH guidance for availability and ordering of COVID-19 booster shots.
Our goal is to be able to offer COVID-19 booster shots and flu shots at the same time, and we are actively making plans to offer them as soon as we have the supply and authorization to do so. Additional information will be forthcoming.
Still have questions about the vaccine?
Still not sure about getting the COVID-19 vaccine shot? Watch John Sellick, DO, Kaleida Health's medical director of infection control, who recorded this video to help answer common questions about the vaccine and dispel misinformation.
The New York State Department of Health also shared the Top Ten Reasons to Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19 (English and Spanish available).
Summary
The number of unvaccinated employees and providers continues to decrease every day, so we are hopeful that the impact on operations next week will be minimal. To that end, we thank our dedicated staff for getting vaccinated to help protect our patients, colleagues and community!
COVID-19 vaccine appointments are available now through Sunday, September 26, 2021 at Buffalo General Medical Center (BGMC) and Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital (MFSH) in the Employee Health offices. Make your appointment now as slots are filling up quickly: https://apps.kaleidahealth.org/vaccine-appointments/. (This is an internal link accessible when connected to the Kaleida Health network.)
Currently, Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen vaccines are available, but supplies may vary depending on when staff and providers get vaccinated. Please call Employee Health (BGMC - 859-2180 or MFSH - 568-3791) if you have questions about which vaccine is available.
This weekend, Employee Health offices will be open during the following hours:
BGMC
Saturday, September 25: 6 a.m.-6 p.m. (closed from 12-1 p.m.)Sunday, September 26: 6 a.m.-6 p.m. (closed from 12-1 p.m.)
MFSH
Saturday, September 25: 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Sunday, September 26: 8-11 a.m. and 12-5 p.m.
