Catholic hospital system enforcing updated COVID vaccine 'requirement' for workers

RENTON, Wash. (TND) — Non-profit Catholic healthcare system Providence Health & Services is directing its employees to receive the new round of COVID-19 vaccinations once they are available.

Employees are being asked to receive a vaccine or booster by no later than Nov. 30. However, a spokesperson for the healthcare system told The National Desk (TND) Thursday that "those who do not wish to receive" a vaccine "simply need to submit a declination form" by the same day.

On its website, Providence Health & Services refers to the practice as a "vaccine requirement" meant to protect its "vulnerable patient population" and community.

Social media users claim that any employees who do not comply will be placed on unpaid leave and face termination, pointing to a notice allegedly written by Providence Health & Services officials.

“We’ve all heard that cases of COVID-19 are on the rise and the latest updates to COVID-19 vaccines are proving effective at preventing serious illness from the latest strains,” a photo of the alleged notice reads. “The updated mRNA vaccines were approved by the Food and Drug Administration on September 11th and are expected to be available soon."

Social media users expressed outrage over the photo.

“Absolutely not!!!!” a user exclaimed. “I will never take a Covid vaccine . Guess I’ll lose my job and be homeless. Maybe I sneak into Mexico and come across border illegally to USA. Then I get room and board, food and $2,200 spending money. Sounds great.”

“Mandatory doesn’t mean law so get a lawyer and sue,” anothersaid.

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The spokesperson for the healthcare system told TND that there is a difference between what Providence Health & Services is currently enforcing and "the vaccine mandates that we were required to implement" during the pandemic.

“The health and safety of our patients, caregivers and community are our highest priority. As such, we ask that all employees receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine or booster,” the spokesperson told TND.

The spokesperson also noted that similar measures have been implemented in the past with flu immunizations.

“Caregivers can choose to decline the vaccine. Those who do not wish to receive it simply need to submit a declination form by Nov. 30,” the spokesperson said. “They no longer need to request approval for a medical or religious exemption as many of our states and CMS required at the height of COVID. This policy has been our practice for many years with the flu vaccine and we are now extending this to the COVID vaccine.”