As mandate date nears, where do area hospitals stand on employee vaccinations?

MARSHALL COUNTY, W.Va. — WVU Medicine is requiring workers at their healthcare facilities to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The deadline to do so is Oct. 31.

WVU Medicine President Albert Wright has said that just over 90 percent of company employees are fully vaccinated -- or they’ve been granted medical or religious exemptions.

Reynolds Memorial Hospital President and CEO Dr. David Hess says they’re around that same number locally.

“A very high percentage of our employees are compliant with the vaccine requirement. So, we’re very encouraged by that,” Hess said. “I think that as we continue to talk to the employees on the importance of it, and the science behind it, I think we’re going to be fine as far as staffing goes.

But what about the people who did not qualify for exemptions or aren’t going to get vaccinated?

Hospitals across the country are already dealing with staff shortages.

Hess says the hospital has been working on contingency plans to prepare for what may come.

“I think that the amount of employees in each department that this could affect is literally one, maybe two. So, we have worked on contingency plans that we’re not going to see any disruptions in care because of the vaccine mandates,” Hess said.

Hess says he knows that this mandate is not popular among many, but the health system believes it was the right move to make.

“But ultimately, it comes down to we’re a healthcare facility, we have to be there for the public and stay healthy for the public. As Albert Wright says, we do feel like we’re going to be on the right side of history for this,” Hess said.