PROVIDENCE – The state’s two largest hospital systems on Tuesday said that they will soon be mandating thousands of employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine, setting early September deadlines for holdouts.
The announcements by Care New England Health System and Lifespan Corp. follow the lead of other major health care providers across the country that worry about a rise of infections and the threat of the delta variant.
Facing the Holidays with a Cancer Diagnosis
The holidays are often painted as a time of joy, tradition, and togetherness. But for…
Learn More
While most employees have already received their COVID-19 vaccines, Providence-based Care New England said it will soon put its foot down for more than 2,000 unvaccinated health care workers at its seven facilities, including Butler Hospital, Kent County Memorial Hospital and Women & Infants Hospital. Data provided by Care New England shows that 26% of its 8,076 employees and volunteers remain unvaccinated as of Tuesday, including more than 35% of the 645 people working at The Providence Center Inc., which offers mental health services in the downtown area.
Care New England said it has required new hires, students and volunteers brought in since July 1 this year to be vaccinated, but it’s taking this next step to mandate the vaccine among existing employees due to concerns over rising COVID-19 cases and the threat of the “highly contagious” delta variant of COVID-19. Care New England said managers will begin implementing the vaccine mandate just prior to Labor Day.
“It is our responsibility to keep our patients and our staff safe,” said James E. Fanale, CEO and president of Care New England, which has more than 8,000 employees and staff. “This program will be based on the best evidence that we have to date about preventing transmission of COVID-19.”
Care New England, which is the state’s second-largest health care system, said it would release further details on the implementation of its vaccine mandate program within the next two weeks.
Providence-based Lifespan, the largest hospital system in Rhode Island, runs The Miriam Hospital and Rhode Island Hospital, also released a statement on Tuesday about its plans to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations among staff by Sept. 1, with a goal of getting all employees to show proof of immunization within 60 days.
“As the region’s leading health care system, we feel no greater obligation than to the health and safety of our patients, staff and community,” the not-for-profit health care system announced in a public statement on Tuesday.
The Providence hospital systems are following the lead of major health care organizations, including the nation’s largest provider, the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA announced a vaccine mandate for front-line workers on Monday, making it the first federal agency to do so, signaling a potential pivot for other hospital systems and workplaces to mandate vaccines as well.
Lifespan said it’s following recent recommendations from the American Hospital Association, the Association of American Medical Colleges, and other leading health care organizations, as it implements a vaccine mandate. Lifespan said the change “is being made only after extensive and thoughtful review” with the safety of employees and patients in mind.
“Lifespan will join other health care systems around the country in requiring all employees, regardless of their role, to be vaccinated against COVID-19,” the company said. “The vaccines are safe and extremely effective in combating COVID-19. It is our responsibility as health care professionals to take the science seriously and act to safeguard the health of our community.”
(MINOR edits.)
Marc Larocque is a PBN staff writer. Contact him at Larocque@PBN.com.
