08/05/2021

OHA Recommends All Medical Centers Require COVID Vaccines of Employees

Low vaccination rates endanger not only the unvaccinated but invite continued mutations

The Ohio Hospital Association (OHA), which represents 245 medical centers and 15 health systems throughout the state, is recommending Ohio hospitals independently adopt policies requiring coronavirus vaccines for all employees, it announced Tuesday morning.

"The COVID-19 delta variant is a game changer in our fight to overcome this pandemic," said Mike Abrams, the association's president and CEO. "Low vaccination rates across Ohio and the country endangers not only the unvaccinated, which includes children under 12 years old and individuals who are immunocompromised, but invites continued mutations of even more dangerous strains of the virus to develop, putting the health of our communities at serious risk."

The association’s board adopted a policy statement Monday afternoon with the vaccine recommendation. In Ohio, the first two health care systems to recommend vaccines were Michigan-based Trinity Health, which owns Mount Carmel hospitals in the Columbus area, followed by the Veterans Health Administration, said John Palmer, OHA's spokesman. Each adopted vaccine requirements in July.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Cleveland.com.