U.Va. Health requires employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19
News
U.Va. Health requires employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19
The policy goes into effect Nov. 1
By Maryann Xue
August 25, 2021
U.Va. Health is requiring all employees to receive COVID-19 vaccination by the beginning of November. Anyone who remains unvaccinated as of Nov. 1 will face disciplinary action, which may include employment termination.
By Oct. 18, all U.Va. Health employees must have received either two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, allowing them to be fully vaccinated by the deadline of Nov. 1.
These vaccines will save lives, prevent unnecessary sickness and help us ensure we have the capacity to provide the best care possible not just for patients with COVID-19 but for all patients, said K. Craig Kent, chief executive officer of U.Va. Health, in a press release. It is part of our duty as a leading academic medical center to protect the health of our patients, guests, team members and community.
Excluding contracted employees, 86 percent of U.Va. Health employees are currently vaccinated. Approximately 14,000 people are employed by the health system, which includes professors, nurses, doctors and more.
The health system previously required that all new hires be vaccinated against COVID-19 a requirement is had not extended to existing staff until Wednesday. Medical and religious exemptions to the vaccine policy will also be considered.
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