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Indiana University Health said 125 employees have chosen not to get the COVID-19 vaccine as required and are no longer with the organization.
The state’s largest hospital system confirmed the departures on Thursday, but did not say whether the workers quit or were fired.
“Indiana University Health has put the safety and well-being of patients and team members first by requiring employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Sept. 1,” the health system said in a statement. “After a two-week unpaid suspension period ending Sept. 14, a total of 125 employees, the equivalent of 61 full-time employees, chose not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and have left the organization.”
IU Health did not provide details on what kinds of positions were affected, or whether any of the employees worked in bedside care. The number is small percentage of IU Health’s work force of about 36,000.
Two weeks ago, the health system said that suspended employees would be allowed to return to work if they attested to partial or full vaccination. At the time, it said that fewer than 300 workers had been suspended.
IU Health operates the state’s largest hospital, Methodist Hospital, along with 15 others, including IU Health North in Carmel, IU Health Saxony in Fishers and University Hospital on the IUPUI campus.
Around the United States, more than 150 hospital systems have issued vaccination mandates to employees. Hospitals have borne the brunt of the surge in COVID-19 cases, and many have also reported a growing shortage of nurses and other patient-care workers who have resigned or taken administrative roles.
According to the Indiana State Department of Health, statewide hospitalizations due to COVID-19 were at 2,524 on Wednesday. More than a third (34%) of Indiana’s intensive care unit beds are occupied by COVID patients.
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From heroes to zeroes. IU Health is garbage.
Wrong. They are protecting their patients from the “neigh-sayers”.
Yeah, I’d want to be admitted to the hospital and then have an unvaccinated health care worker take care of me…note the sarcasm!
“From heroes to zeros.” – the 125 unvaccinated people who no longer work at IU Health.
I commend IU stance on this! We need to see more companies take this stance! Way to go IU!!!!
I readily admit I’m not a fan of Indiana healthcare in general. I’m sorry but IU Health is an embarrassment as the states largest healthcare organization. The most descriptive tag line would be “average quality of care, poorly delivered, and at the highest prices.
However in this case they got it right, and like Indiana University they should be proud of their leadership position with mandatory vaccination.
My guess is this number is very similar to how many people routinely get let go for other various reasons across their massive workforce. Remember, not all employees in hospitals are doctors and nurses. Lots of receptionists, janitorial staff, food service, security etc etc etc. Nothing to see here.
As a physician actively dealing with this pandemic, I applaud IU’s action. They gave ample time for their employees to become vaccinated or obtain a medical or religious exemption. These workers chose their path. In my professional and personal opinion, anyone who is unwilling to be vaccinated during a global pandemic is not qualified to be a health care worker.
Thank you!
Covid-19 is a viral infection and a immune system disease. With the vaccine a person can still get infected, shed the virus but have no symptoms. Therefore, a vaccine does not stop the spread. 70% of people who become infected never develop symptoms because they have a strong working immune system that fight off the virus and develop long-lasting immunity. Vitamin D, Zinc, and Ivermectin are completely safe and Vitamin D is known to be the most effective treatment for acute disease there is.
Hospitals, airlines and other major corporations do not examine each and every employee to determine personal medical issues that the vaccine could dangerously cause. What the news has suppressed, are the number of deaths and harmful outcomes caused by the vaccine as well as questions of accuracy and truth from the CDC, NIH, and Fauci himself. Millions of people are not anti-vax, but to terminate employees based on an assumption this vaccine is the broad-brush answer to this pandemic is complete ignorance. To demand any injection is an assumption it is a cure-all for every human on this planet, it is not. I also choose my own path and know what works for my own personal health and safety. However, this idea is too logical and incites the very people who have demanded control by using the fear of CV-19 to make us robots. “If you don’t obey, we push you away” is the new motto.
Dr. Paul: With due respect, your statement is highly disappointing. If you and the government are so concerned about the health of the population, would you terminate your employees who stand outside the hospital campus smoking a cancer stick? Shouldn’t cigarettes be banned…after all second-hand smoke is just as dangerous; even outdoors. Also, I wonder if you had the time to notice the box of blue masks you likely provide your staff and patients. Have you noticed they are “made in China”?