W.Va.’s largest private employer issues vaccine warrant to workers

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP / WSAZ) – West Virginia’s largest private employer demands that its employees be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus by October 31, as cases of the virus continue to grow exponentially statewide.

The warrant issued by the West Virginia University Health System applies to workers at its hospitals and clinics in West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

“We’re doing this because it’s the right thing to do. We are the primary health care provider and the largest employer in the state, and we have a higher obligation to our patients and to each other. I want WVU Medicine hospitals and clinics to be as safe as possible for our patients and staff. A fully immunized workforce will help ensure that safety, ”said Albert L. Wright, Jr., President and CEO of WVU Health System.

Wright was the first employee of WVU Medicine JW Ruby Memorial Hospital to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on December 15, 2020, according to a statement.

Wright went on to say that the healthcare system cannot allow a situation to develop where hundreds of employees are absent due to COVID-19.

“The number of unvaccinated staff members absent due to COVID is increasing and starting to have a significant impact on our patient care mission. Neither can we have a two-tier workforce with one person vaccinated and another who is not. This places an unfair burden on our immunized staff, our patients and the public, who all expect us to be able to provide the services they need, when they need them. While there is uncertainty with the current wave we are in right now, we do know one thing for sure: the vaccine is extremely safe and effective, ”Wright said.

The new mandate also applies to staff working remotely from home or on site.

The number of active virus cases statewide has nearly doubled in the past 10 days.

The move comes the same day the FDA granted full approval for the Pfizer vaccine, which the healthy system had already delivered to more than 60% of its workforce as part of an emergency use authorization, according to the. communicated.

In the last week alone, nearly 4,000 new positive cases have been reported – numbers not seen since the end of January.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.