ChristianaCare Will Require All Employees to Be Vaccinated for COVID-19

ChristianaCare today announced that it will join a growing number of health care systems and hospitals across the nation that are requiring all caregivers to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

All caregivers must receive their first dose of a two-dose vaccine or their single dose of Johnson & Johnson by Tuesday, September 21, 2021.

For this policy, ChristianaCare defines all caregivers as: ChristianaCare employees (regardless of the type of work they do), Medical-Dental Staff, residents, students, contracted employees, temporary labor, volunteers and vendors.
“Over the past eight months, we have served our community by administering thousands of vaccines to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. President Joe Biden was among those who rolled up their sleeves at ChristianaCare to protect themselves and others,” said Janice E. Nevin, M.D., President and CEO. “Since then, approximately 10,000 of our caregivers have opted for the vaccinations, which have been proven safe and effective at providing lasting immunity to COVID-19 and reducing severe illness.

“While we have not required vaccinations to-date, the highly transmissible delta variant and the surge in COVID-19 cases among unvaccinated people across the country—including in our area—have prompted additional considerations. The science is clear: Health care workers must be vaccinated in order to protect the health and safety of our patients, our caregivers and our community. We must take this step as expert, caring partners in the health of our neighbors.”

The decision comes as a growing number of professional organizations urge all health care facilities to require workers to get vaccinated—including the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, the American Hospital Association, America’s Essential Hospitals, the American College of Surgeons and many others.

“We believe we have reached a tipping point at which the urgent need for all caregivers to be vaccinated is clear,” said Chief People Officer Neil Jasani, M.D., MBA, FACEP. “While we continue to provide exceptional care for people with COVID-19, the fact remains that this is a very dangerous virus, especially the delta variant, which is causing increasing hospitalizations and mortality among younger and healthier people. The best way to protect people and to save lives is through vaccination.”

Vaccine exemptions will only be allowed for specific medical conditions and religious beliefs.