MetroHealth System
Metro will require vaccinations come the end of October
MetroHealth today announced it will require all employees, volunteers and contractors be vaccinated for Covid by Oct. 30, making it the first Northeast Ohio hospital system to institute the requirement that's been recommended by the American Medical Association, Ohio Hospital Association and other groups.
“Protecting caregivers against COVID-19 is the right thing to do,” said MetroHealth President and CEO Akram Boutros in a press release. “Our profession has been hailed as heroic because we were there when there was no protection from this disease. We cared for people and put ourselves at risk. We don’t have to do that anymore. We can and have to take care of our patients and ourselves.”
More than 80% of Metro's staff is already vaccinated.
"Vaccine requirements for health care employees are nothing new," MetroHealth noted in its announcement. "MetroHealth already requires annual flu vaccinations, as well as measles, mumps and rubella vaccinations as a condition of employment."
Those who don't will be subject to disciplinary actions, including being fired.
Exceptions will be made, with proof, for those abstaining for medical or religious reasons.
