Nearly 10% of UMass Memorial employees remain unvaccinated as Nov. 1 deadline looms
PHOTO/EDD COTE
UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester set up a coronavirus testing tent at its University Campus early in the pandemic.
During a September town hall meeting, UMass Memorial Health President and CEO Dr. Eric Dickson, stressed the importance of caregiver vaccinations and described possible termination for staff who remained non-compliant with the hospital’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Currently, 90% of UMass’ caregivers and staff are vaccinated or have applied for/received medical and religious exemptions, said Anthony Berry, spokesman for UMass Memorial Health.
More than 1,600 employees remain unvaccinated, out of the 16,500 in the UMass Memorial Health system, which now includes the additional employees from Harrington HealthCare in Southbridge.
On Oct. 1, UMass Memorial mandated all of the hospital’s department chairs receive their vaccines. The department chairs were almost 100% percent in compliance with only one individual declining the vaccine.
A coming federal mandate from the President Joe Biden Administration requires 100% vaccination of employees at organizations receiving Medicare or Medicaid funding, including UMass Memorial Health.
UMass has set a Nov. 1 deadline for the rest of the staff to obtain at least the first dose of the vaccine by the deadline. Those not in compliance with the vaccine policy will be required to wear N-95 masks and submit to weekly testing. Unvaccinated employees may still face future termination, Berry said.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 62% of Worcester County residents are fully vaccinated as of Oct. 7.
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