Luke’s employee ‘shocked’ by COVID-19 vaccine requirements, CEO says ‘right time’

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Employees at Idaho’s largest employer may need to leave if they haven’t been vaccinated against the coronavirus. The health system leadership said it was proven safe.

BOISE, Idaho — Employees of Idaho’s largest employer who do not plan to get a COVID-19 vaccine may have to seek work elsewhere if they do not comply or are exempted from a new vaccine requirement.

Luke’s announced its decision Thursday to require all employees to receive their first dose of the vaccination by September 1. However, not everyone sees it.

Travis Patrick works for the Health Information Department at St. Luke’s and told KTVB that he feels the demand came without warning.

“We’re kind of shocked. It was something [that happened] Patrick said. “It’s a very experimental drug. I don’t trust it now. It had too many case variants. They say it’s safe but it’s not.”

However, St. Luke’s executives said now is the time for a COVID-19 vaccine requirement.

“The evidence is overwhelming. Vaccines are not only safe, but highly effective,” said Dr. Jim Sousa, chief executive officer at St. Luke’s.

Vaccines are still Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and are not FDA approved. For this reason, Patrick is not convinced that it is safe, he wants more data on the long-term effects of the photo.

“[I don’t trust it] At this point, it’s not until there is at least two to three years or so of evidence of that,” Patrick said.

The average time to review an FDA vaccine is 12 months, according to Dr. Souza.

Luke’s has not waited for FDA approval to order vaccines due to an increase in COVID-19 positive cases among employees and a high delta variable, Dr.

“We don’t feel like we have the luxury of waiting anymore to protect our patients and staff,” Souza said.

Luke’s president and CEO, Chris Roth, echoed that sentiment.

“We felt it was the right time to take this next step, in terms of vaccine requirements,” Roth said.

That doesn’t leave many options for employees like Patrick who don’t expect to qualify for a medical or religious exemption.

“Patients are safe. We are taking all precautions to keep things clean, you know? Masks, gloves, suits, we wash our hands, we have hand sanitizing stations everywhere.” Patrick said. “I don’t have to worry about trying to come up with proof to try not to take something to try to keep working. Especially since some people don’t come into direct contact with patients.”

Nearly 80% of St. Luke’s employees have been vaccinated, according to Sousa. The closer the employee works with patients, he said, the more likely they are to be vaccinated. Doctors and nurses were found to be vaccinated at higher rates than the guard staff.

Souza attributed this trend to the experiences these employees had while treating patients who contracted the virus.

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