Mercy Jefferson Hospital in Crystal City has fired about 28 of its employees for not getting a COVID-19 vaccine or having an approved exemption, hospital spokesman Joe Poelker said.
That is less than 2 percent of the hospital’s approximately 1,400 staff members, he said
Mercy announced in July that all employees needed to receive a COVID-19 vaccine or have a religious or medical exemption to keep their jobs.
If employees were not vaccinated or did not have an approved exemption by Oct. 1, they were placed on a 28-day unpaid suspension with full benefits to give them an opportunity to follow the policy, according to a written statement from Mercy.
“We have done everything possible to assist our co-workers in doing the right thing for our communities and for each other,” said Dr. Jeff Ciaramita, Mercy’s chief physician executive and senior vice president. “Ultimately, it was their decision. Like the flu shot, which is also required, we know this is the only decision for a health care organization.”
Poelker said he could not provide information about how many employees received medical or religious exemptions at Mercy Jefferson.
According to Mercy, all employees who received an approved exemption will have “rigorous masking and protective equipment protocols” and frequent testing.
“By requiring all co-workers to be vaccinated, we are making sure anyone who walks through any door of any Mercy facility is better protected from COVID-19,” said Dr. John Mohart, Mercy’s chief clinical officer and senior vice president. “What we all know is that when you visit a doctor’s office or hospital, you’re often already compromised in some way – whether it’s a cold or cancer or diabetes. That makes it even more urgent for us to make sure Mercy does everything possible to protect our patients, visitors and co-workers. It’s our responsibility as a health care organization to make our spaces as safe as possible. We take that responsibility very seriously.”
Mercy, which has facilities in Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas, has a total of about 40,000 employees, and about 800, or less than 2 percent, made the decision to not be vaccinated, according to the written statement.