UCHealth demands COVID vaccine for all staff and volunteers – CBS Denver

AURORA, Colo. (CBS4)– UCHealth requires all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 1. This includes all employees, contractors, volunteers and partners. The reason for the vaccine’s mandate is “to increase the safety of all patients, visitors and members of the healthcare team, by helping to protect them from COVID-19,” according to a statement from UCHealth.

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“After battling COVID-19 for over a year, and as the dangerous delta variant has become the dominant strain in Colorado and elsewhere, it is clear that vaccination against this disease is essential to protect our employees, as well as our patients and visitors, “said Elizabeth Concordia, President and CEO of UCHealth, in a statement.” We know that immunization will also improve health and safety in the communities served by UCHealth, and we want to lead by example and help end this pandemic. ”

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UCHealth said the policy applies to all employees, medical staff, interns, volunteers, vendors, medical students and contract staff. As of Wednesday, nearly 85% of UCHealth’s 26,000 employees had received the vaccine. UCHealth is also offering a bonus of $ 500 to any fully vaccinated employee by August 22.

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UCHealth RN, Karen Nerger, administers a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine during a COVID-19 mass vaccination event on January 30, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. UCHealth, Colorado’s largest healthcare provider, plans to vaccinate 10,000 people over the age of 70 at the driving event this weekend. (Photo by Michael Ciaglo / Getty Images)

UCHealth said the vast majority of patients currently hospitalized with COVID-19 are not vaccinated.

“The best way to stay safe from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated as soon as possible,” Dr. Michelle Barron, senior medical director of infection prevention for UCHealth, said in a statement. “The vaccines have been shown to be safe and very effective in preventing serious illness and hospitalizations, even from the delta variant. About 94% of our hospital patients are not vaccinated, and even for fully vaccinated people who become ill, the vaccine reduces the severity of the disease. People who are vaccinated are less likely to need intensive care or die even if they need hospitalization. “

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According to UCHealth, UCHealth employees will have the option of receiving the vaccine of their choice, which includes two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or one dose of the J&J vaccine. Exemptions will only be granted for valid medical or religious reasons. Anyone granted an exemption will be required to wear a mask at all times at UCHealth facilities and be tested weekly for COVID-19. Those who do not comply with the vaccine policy will be fired.