BOISE, Idaho — (**Note** - A previous version of this story said that the deadline would be this November 21. Saint Alphonsus has since updated that date to September 21.)
Trinity Health, the national health system of which Idaho's Saint Alphonsus is part, announced Thursday that all employees will be required to get vaccinated for COVID-19.
The policy requires all "colleagues, clinical staff, contractors, and those conducting business in its health care facilities" to submit proof of full vaccination by Sep. 21, 2021.
On Thursday, St. Luke's Health System and Primary Health Medical Group both announced similar requirements for their employees.
"Saint Alphonsus will require vaccinations for all colleagues in Idaho and encourages vaccines for its colleagues in Oregon, as Oregon law does not permit healthcare employers from requiring vaccinations," a hospital spokesman wrote.
Legal experts say that because Idaho is an at-will employment state, all employers - not just those in the health field - can legally require their staff to get vaccinated.
Trinity Health has more than 117,000 employees in 21 states across the U.S. - nearly 75% of whom have received at least one dose of the vaccine, the medical group says.
“Safety is one of our core values and because of our commitment to providing safe care, ensuring our colleagues and providers are vaccinated is what is required at this time. We must trust the science and live up to our core values,” said Odette Bolano, the president and CEO of Saint Alphonsus Health System.
She talked with KTVB about the reaction to the news.
"We have people who are extremely supportive and understands our reasoning or rationale around this and this is a very personal decision and emotional decision for some, but I would say in general, there's a lot of positive reaction but there are some that are not happy with our decision," Bolano said. "With something like this, we are always concerned that we will have colleagues that don't agree and opt to leave their employment. We hope that that is not the reason they choose to leave us."
More than 331 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered across the United States, Saint Alphonsus said, and the vaccine proving to be safe and effective. More than 99% of the COVID-19 deaths today are occurring in unvaccinated people.
More than 2,100 Idahoans have died of coronavirus since the pandemic reached the state in March 2020, and scores more were sickened.
“Getting the COVID vaccine is the right thing for every adult and child that qualifies,” said Dr. Steven Nemerson, Chief Clinical Officer for Saint Alphonsus Health System. “Saint Alphonsus Health System is proud to do its part in protecting our patients, their families, and our community by ensuring that all of our caregivers will be fully vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, the harmful and potentially deadly virus that causes COVID-19. Just as our colleagues are required to receive annual flu vaccines to work in our facilities, we know that vaccination is the single most effective tool in preventing the transmission of COVID, keeping our facilities COVID-free, and saving lives. The safety and efficacy of the vaccines is clearly established, and most of our colleagues in Idaho and Oregon have already voluntarily received their vaccines.”
Member of Idaho's Coronavirus Task Force and former St. Luke's CEO, Dr. David Pate told KTVB, he wasn't surprised by the decision and expects more health care systems to follow.
"Clearly there are going to be people on both sides, but the good news is that the majority of health care workers and local hospitals have already been vaccinated so it's going to be the minority," Pate said. "People need to be reassured that if you need services from our hospital, you can come, you're going to be safe, they're acting responsibly to protect you."
Exemptions on religious or medical grounds may be formally requested and documented, subject to approval.
Workers who do not meet the criteria for an exemption and do not show proof of COVID-19 vaccination by the September deadline will have their employment terminated, Trinity Health said.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare declined to weigh in on whether they backed mandatory vaccines.
"While we encourage everyone to get the COVID-19 vaccine because it’s the best protection against serious illness, hospitalization, and even death from COVID-19, DHW doesn’t have a stance on whether employers require the vaccine for their employees because that is a business decision, they are within their rights to make as business owners," the agency said in a statement.
At KTVB, we’re focusing our news coverage on the facts and not the fear around the virus. To see our full coverage, visit our coronavirus section, here: www.ktvb.com/coronavirus.
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