BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Local hospitals are weighing in on mandating COVID-19 vaccines for their workers due to the rising COVID cases fueled by the delta variant.
As more and more companies and health organizations announce that is employees must get a COVID-19 shot, others are still hoping that most of their employees will receive it voluntarily. COVID-19 cases are back and rapidly on the rise due in most parts of the delta variant, which is more contagious than the original COVID-19 strain that impacted much of the world over the last year and a half. In West Virginia, confirmed coronavirus cases have increased in the past month after falling to 12-month lows in July. The number of daily confirmed cases statewide hit 242 Wednesday, the highest since there were 229 cases on May 19. The number of residents hospitalized from the virus has jumped to 185, up from 52 on July 4. There have been at least 118 cases of the delta variant identified in 31 counties, including one case in Raleigh County. Neighboring counties like Wyoming County report six delta variant cases.
Lootpress reached out to Raleigh General Hospital about whether it would require its employees to get vaccinated and received the following statement: “At this time, Raleigh General Hospital is strongly encouraging and supporting all of our team members to become fully vaccinated. There is significant evidence that grows daily, indicating that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Understanding that the situation changes daily, we are committed to carefully evaluating the research and the level of COVID-19 activity in our communities as we make this very important decision independent of approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We will continue to evaluate our procedures and closely follow guidance from our local, state, and federal partners in public health, said Courtney White, Raleigh General Hospital Marketing Coordinator.”
Jeri Knowlton, Digital Communication with Appalachian Regional Healthcare, told Lootpress that an internal memo went out to all of its employees this morning that stated it would require all employees, providers, students, volunteers, vendors, and contractors who work within ARH locations in Kentucky and West Virginia get the COVID-19 vaccine. Knowlton went on to say, “Despite COVID-19 vaccination education and outreach efforts, the communities we serve, including our ARH healthcare staff, have not yet reached a critical mass of vaccination to provide sufficient protection for the unvaccinated. We continue to see an alarming rapid increase in COVID-19 Delta variant cases in our service area.”
Princeton Community Hospital’s CEO, Karen Bowling, says, “any decision made on the appropriateness of mandatory vaccinations by WVUMedicine will only be a recommendation, and it’s up to the individual hospitals to make the final decision.
“That is under advisement right now,” she said. “Our system is determining whether or not we think that’s the right step.”
Bowling said mandatory vaccinations are being discussed around the country.
“There will be some information forthcoming within the next 30 days on how they will advise,” she said. “We will take their information and use it to make a good decision.””
WVU Medicine says, “Our senior, clinical, and administrative leaders across the WVU Health System are carefully evaluating the possibility of requiring the vaccine. The West Virginia Hospital Association also plans to discuss this topic with its members next week to determine if there’s broader alignment on the issue as well. In the meantime, we’re strongly encouraging our staff members, as well as the general public, to get vaccinated.”