CLEVELAND — *Editor's Note: The video in the player above is from a previous report.
One of Northeast Ohio's largest health care providers is nearing a 100 percent compliance rate among its employees with its COVID-19 vaccination policy.
On Monday, MetroHealth reported that 99.94 percent of its staff, made of up 7,700 members, are now in compliance with its vaccine policy. The percentage indicates that approximately 7,269 of their employees have been vaccinated.
“I am grateful for each and every member of our team who took this important step to protect the health of their colleagues, patients, families and the community during this once-in-a-generation pandemic,” said MetroHealth President and CEO Akram Boutros, MD. “Our employees are simply extraordinary. As an academic medical center, we embrace scientifically proven measures in everything that we do. The COVID-19 vaccination is no exception.”
The news comes just days after the deadline, which was issued by MetroHeath back in August, for the vaccine requirement. By October 30, employees were to have either received their vaccination or filed for exemption.
MetroHealth says that 426 employees have filed for an exemption. Those cases will be reviewed on a rolling basis through the end of the year.
According to the hospital, as of Monday, only five employees have declined to share their vaccination status. Those employees have been suspended without pay for two weeks.
Since implementing the vaccinate requirement, MetroHeath has seen 12 staff members resign or retire citing the requirement as their reason for departure.
In addition to the COVID-19 vaccine, employees are also required to be vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella as a condition of their employment.
MetroHealth was founded in 1837 and operates four hospitals, four emergency departments and more than 20 health centers and 40 additional sites throughout Cuyahoga County.
*Editor's Note: The video in the player above is from a previous report.