(ETH) – Norton Healthcare and Baptist Health are joining UofL Health in requiring all of its employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine according to a report from WDRB41 News.
Monday, Baptist Health said it would be rolling out a plan to require unvaccinated employees to get vaccinated for COVID-19 “due to the sharp rise in cases due to the delta variant, primarily among those who are unvaccinated,”
A letter sent to Baptist employees on Monday obtained by WDRB News says cases have been rising at each of its locations, “in some instances nearly reaching the numbers we saw during the height of the pandemic.”
According to WLKY, Russell F. Cox, Norton Healthcare president, and CEO, said “due to changing circumstances” the health system will now require all team members who have not been vaccinated to get their first dose by Sept. 15.
“Setting the standard for quality and caring is part of our mission, vision, and values. As a health care organization, we must create the safest environment possible for all those we serve,” Cox said in a statement.
According to Norton, the vaccine requirement is being announced to keep employees, providers, patients, and the community safe. Until now, the health system had only strongly recommended employees get the COVID-19 vaccine. “Now is the time to do more,” Cox said.
