Photo by Christina Hughes Babb
Baylor Scott & White Health will require its employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
All staff members, volunteers, students, vendors and contract workers will be required to be vaccinated by Oct. 1, the company said. The requirement includes both doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
This comes as the delta variant is contributing to an increase in cases throughout the U.S. It follows the CDC’s latest update on mask guidelines.
Below is a statement from the nonprofit hospital system:
With rapidly rising COVID-19 case counts due to the highly contagious Delta variant and the start of the flu season fast approaching, we believe now is the right time to take the next step in achieving a fully vaccinated workforce.
By Oct. 1, 2021, all Baylor Scott & White Health employees, providers, volunteers, vendors, students and contract staff must receive both doses of the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, unless granted an exemption.
The Delta variant is the most contagious and dangerous strain we have seen to date, leading to exponentially increasing rates of severe illness and hospitalization. The overwhelming majority of these cases are among the unvaccinated.
We are committed to making the communities we serve healthier. Whether you are a patient, family member or employee, you can be assured that we have taken every measure to protect you.
There are several Baylor Scott & White offices in our neighborhood, including the Institute for Rehabilitation and a Pediatric Center.
