Baylor Scott & White and Ascension staffs, volunteers, and vendors must be vaccinated
Baylor Scott & White Health and Ascension are requiring staff, vendors, volunteers, and associates to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the fall of 2021. Staff photo
As the COVID-19 Delta variant grabs a foothold across Texas, two major healthcare providers with hospitals and clinics in the Highland Lakes are taking an additional step in protecting their patients, staffs, and communities.
Ascension and Baylor Scott & White Health will require their staffs and others associated with their facilities to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the fall of 2021.
Baylor Scott & White Health set a deadline of Oct. 1 for all of its employees, providers, volunteers, vendors, students, and contract staff to be fully vaccinated unless granted an exemption.
“With the 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,” Baylor Scott & White Health officials stated in a media release.
Ascension officials announced a plan to have all associates, whether or not they provide direct care, vaccinated by Nov. 12. The plan falls in line with its influenza vaccine requirement.
Those affected include “associates employed by subsidiaries and partners; physicians and advanced practice providers, whether employed or independent; and volunteers and vendors entering Ascension facilities.”
Seton Ascension does have an exemption process for those who cannot get a vaccine due to a medical condition or strongly held religious belief.
“Ascension conducted a thorough moral and ethical analysis as part of the decision-making process,” the healthcare provider stated in a media release. “This decision is rooted in our Mission commitment to leading with quality and safety. As a healthcare provider and as a Catholic ministry, ensuring we have a culture of safety for our associates, patients and communities is foundational to our work.”
Many associates with both healthcare organizations are already vaccinated.
After a decline in COVID-19 cases, Texas and other states are now experiencing a strong resurgence mostly due to the virus’ Delta variant.
“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,” according to the Baylor Scott & White Health statement. “The overwhelming majority of these cases are among the unvaccinated.”
Both healthcare providers offer services across the Highland Lakes, including Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Marble Falls and Ascension Seton Highland Lakes in Burnet.
“We are committed to making the communities we serve healthier,” the Baylor Scott & White Health release stated. “Whether you are a patient, family member or employee, you can be assured that we have taken every measure to protect you.”
8 thoughts on “Baylor Scott & White and Ascension staffs, volunteers, and vendors must be vaccinated”
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Why do people still blame the unvaccinated on the spread of covid? The vax does NOT stop transmission of covid nor does it stop you from contracting it, it only eases the effects of it once contracted. Vaccinated people are just as likely to spread it as anyone else.
I’ve listened to many doctors explain how masks only prevents particles, not viruses from going through. Time to wake up to what’s really going on here.
They will lose a huge part of their work force. Expect wait times to be longer. And appointments to be close to 3 to 4 months out. It doesn’t just effect employees, it effects everyone in the community.
Possibly, but a lot of folks in the healthcare industry are also cheering these sorts of decisions on because they’re exhausted. We’re still fighting Covid because of people who refuse to wear masks, practice physical distance, and get vaccinated. Despite the advice of experts from every major medical and scientific institution/organization around the world, folks still want to trust their friends’ random post on Facebook instead. Cause and effect, folks. I’m old enough to have relatives talk about their experience with the Spanish flu. It took a lot of work from all folks to get rid of that also.
As of this morning there were only 13 ICU beds available in all of the Austin metro due to Covid cases. The virus will continue to spread if we as a society are more focused on the greater good for all rather than ourselves only. Get vaccinated, folks!
Antibodies and naturally immunity from having COVID-19 doesn’t count?
Sue the pants off of them.
For what? They’re a private company and well within their rights. Not to mention, as a healthcare provider, they do well to ensure that the staff they have interacting with at-risk patients are going to keep them safe.
So personal choice doesn’t matter to either business? Wow.
Personal choice is still there. Either get the vaccine or find another job.