Baptist Health requiring remaining unvaccinated employees to get COVID-19 vaccine

(WKYT) - Baptist Health will require its remaining unvaccinated employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

Officials tell us they are rolling out the vaccination plan due to the sharp rise in cases due to the delta variant, primarily among those who are unvaccinated.

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We’re told about 65 to 70 percent of Baptist Health’s nearly 23,000 employees have received the vaccine.

Baptist Health officials say all of its employees will be required to be vaccinated by October 31.

Because the two-shot vaccines must be spaced 21 to 28 days apart depending on the vaccine, and it takes an additional 14 days after the second dose to be fully effective, employees must get their first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccine by Sept. 15. Employees may also opt to take the single shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The vaccination requirement also extends to all contractors, independent licensed healthcare providers, students, vendors and any other person performing onsite services at any Baptist Health facility.

Employees with a start date of Sept. 13 or later will be required to have their first dose of the vaccine within one week of hire.

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