BJC HealthCare, Washington U announce COVID-19 vaccine requirements for employees | Coronavirus
Dunagan said BJC understands some will be hesitant to get the vaccine.
“It’s not lost on me that this is a tough decision for many people,” he said.
BJC already requires the whooping cough, measles, and chickenpox vaccines for employees, and the annual flu shot.
Some have argued that COVID-19 vaccines cannot be required in the same way as other vaccines, because they do not have final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but rather are available under emergency use authorization. But the shots have also been tested in large, clinical trials, and have been administered to nearly 175 million people in the U.S. alone.
As of last year, BJC employed 29,300 in the St. Louis area. The system has 15 hospitals, and spans the greater metropolitan area, southern Illinois and southeast Missouri.
So far, 75% of employees have been vaccinated, BJC President and CEO Rich Liekweg said Tuesday.
“As a health care provider, major employer and a community leader, BJC wants to ensure we are doing everything we can to keep our patients, our valued workforce, and our communities safe,” Liekweg said in a statement. “The available vaccines are among the most effective and safest ever developed.”
Those who do not get vaccinated could face disciplinary action, said Jackie Tischler, BJC’s senior vice president and chief people officer. The requirement applies to all contractors, temporary staff, and for employees who work remotely.
