Kansas City,
16
September
2021
|
16:33 PM
America/Chicago

Children’s Mercy Kansas City to Mandate the COVID-19 Vaccine for All Employees

Children’s Mercy will require all employees, including clinical and non-clinical staff, contract and remote workers, students, non-employed residents, fellows, interns and volunteers, to have received both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, by Dec. 15, or obtain a medical or religious accommodation that has been approved by Children's Mercy.

“First and foremost, as a preeminent academic children’s health system, we are obligated to do everything we can to improve the health and safety of our patients, many of whom are unvaccinated due to their age, and of our employees,” said Paul Kempinski, MS, FACHE, President and CEO. “Our community looks to us to role model, advocate for and promote pediatric health, and the best way to protect children is for all eligible people to be vaccinated.”

Although no vaccine prevents all infections, the COVID-19 vaccines have been proven safe and highly effective. Vaccination remains the most effective way of reducing the incidence and severity of the virus, and Children’s Mercy has strongly and consistently recommended vaccination for all adults and children age 12 and up. The Pfizer vaccine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for all people age 16 and up on Aug. 23.

“Implementing this mandate will further improve employee safety, and that of our patients and community,” said Kempinski. “Currently, about 80% of our employees have been fully vaccinated. Although this is great progress, we believe we can and must do better. By committing to this policy, we are doing our part – honoring our obligation – to keep our patients, employees, and community safe, and to halt the pandemic’s devastating impact.”

Additionally, in accordance with our policies, Children’s Mercy employees are encouraged to continue following daily self-attestation and masking guidelines, to adhere to use of personal protective equipment, and to practice proper hand hygiene.