Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Vaccine mandate deadline passes with just three employees unaccounted for
DAVENPORT—A federal mandate requiring all healthcare workers be vaccinated announced by president Joe Biden in early September has caused some health organizations nationwide to lose employees in the hundreds, though the majority complied with the mandate. However, at Lincoln Hospital, a staff exodus seems unlikely as the deadline to receive a shot passes.
The deadline for health workers to receive their shot was Oct. 4, as an individual is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or their first shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Lincoln Hospital CEO Tyson Lacy said just over 86% of the hospital’s 265 employees were vaccinated. Of the 39 that weren’t, 36 successfully received a religious or medical exemption.
“As of right now, no staff have intended to walk out,” Lacy said. “Frankly, it’s been my goal that we lose no staff, because we can’t really afford to. It’s hard enough recruiting people to hospitals in the rural area…but we’re looking ok. We’re pretty blessed.”
One employee submitted a request for a religious exemption that needed more information, while the hospital hasn’t heard vaccination information in any capacity from two employees.
Lacy said the process for filing a religious exemption was for employees to fill out a form about why their beliefs conflicted with being vaccinated against COVID-19. Those were submitted to the hospital’s human resources department, where nearly all were accepted.
“This mandate has local hospitals in a pickle, trying to navigate that with ADA laws and things of that nature,” Lacy said. “We haven’t required a note from a pastor or clergy, but some people have included that. The vast majority of people, we granted their exemption.”
Some exemption requests were general statements not related to religion, Lacy said, so those employees had to provide more details. However, when those details were provided, an exemption was granted, he added.
Vaccination mandate staff losses are even less of a concern at the Lincoln County Department of Health, where public health administrator Ed Dzedzy said 100% of staff have been vaccinated.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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