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Mass. General Brigham requiring COVID-19 vaccine for all employees

BOSTON — Mass. General Brigham will mandate every worker get vaccinated once the FDA approves one of the Covid-19 shots.

”Single most important thing we can do to protect our patients, their families and each other is to get vaccinated,” said Dr. Anne Klibanski, who is the president and CEO of Mass General Brigham.

Klibanski said most of the system’s workers already got their shot.

“Well over 85% of our workforce is already vaccinated,” said Klibanski.

The announcement is a way to prepare people who might be on the fence about getting the shot, she said.

However, some will be excused.

”Exceptions will be granted for people who have medical conditions, religious exceptions, these are I would say absolutely routine,” she said.

But those who do not qualify for the exemptions and still refuse to get a vaccination will soon be out of a job.

”When a policy is mandatory, it is mandatory and employment is contingent on that mandatory policy and it’s being followed,” said Klibanski.

Walter Foster is an employment lawyer at Eckert Seamans in Boston. He says right now healthcare businesses can legally mandate the Covid vaccine.

”The general consensus is that mandatory vaccine policies are legal,” said Foster.

He said whether that extends to non-healthcare businesses is not completely clear.

”To me at least, it’s a question up for debate as to whether non-healthcare entities can impose in mandate vaccines,” said Foster.

In addition to Mass General Brigham, Beth Israel Lahey Health and Wellforce have also announced vaccine mandates. Dana-Farber also announced a vaccine mandate for its employees.


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