Providence Hospital System, a large healthcare organization operating in seven states with over 120,000 employees, has addressed its stance on COVID-19 vaccinations for its personnel. Recently, the company updated its COVID-19 vaccination policy, clarifying certain requirements.
Previously, The Gateway Pundit had reported that the healthcare giant announced on its InOurCircle app, a platform designed for employees to stay informed about company news, that all workers, including those who had already received previous COVID-19 shots, are now mandated to receive the latest COVID-19 vaccine.
According to the announcement, all employees of Providence Hospital System must receive the most up-to-date COVID-19 vaccine, which was recently granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These updated mRNA vaccines were approved on Tuesday, September 12, and are expected to be available soon.
“We’ve all heard that cases of COVID-19 are on the rise and the latest updates to COVID-19 vaccines are proving effective at preventing serious illness from the latest strains. We updated our COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, and caregivers need to receive the most up-to-date COVID-19 vaccine available,” as stated in the post obtained by Chester Tam.
The announcement further detailed several key requirements for employees. A screenshot shared by Chester Tam highlights a section of the announcement that specifies the need for employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
In response to The Gateway Pundit’s inquiry, Michael Connors, Providence Public Relations representative, clarified the organization’s stance on COVID-19 vaccinations for employees. Connors emphasized that the health and safety of patients, caregivers, and the community remain the highest priority for Providence Hospital System. Therefore, the company asks all employees to receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine or booster.
However, Connors explicitly stated that this requirement is not a mandate. He highlighted the differentiation between Providence’s policy and the strict vaccine mandates enforced by state laws and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) during the height of the pandemic.
“This is not the same as the vaccine mandates that we were required to implement by state law and CMS during the pandemic. Caregivers can choose to decline the vaccine. Those who do not wish to receive it simply need to submit a declination form by Nov. 30. They no longer need to request approval for a medical or religious exemption as many of our states and CMS required at the height of COVID,” explained Connors.
He added that all declinations would be automatically accepted and did not require approval. This process differs from the medical or religious exemptions that were previously required during the pandemic by various states and federal regulators.
Connors emphasized that this approach is not entirely new but rather an extension of Providence Hospital System’s long-standing policy regarding the flu vaccine. The company has maintained a similar practice for many years with regards to the flu vaccine and is now extending it to include the COVID-19 vaccine.
In conclusion, Providence Hospital System has clarified its stance on COVID-19 vaccinations for employees, emphasizing the importance of the health and safety of its patients, caregivers, and community. While employees are encouraged to receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine, the organization does not enforce a mandate and provides an option to decline by submitting a declination form. This approach aligns with the company’s existing policy on flu vaccines, which has been in place for several years.
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