Phoebe Ministries to mandate employees be vaccinated
Phoebe Ministries, which operates senior-living communities in the Lehigh Valley and beyond, said Monday it will require its employees to get the COVD19 vaccination by Oct. 19 as a condition of employment.
Since federal approval of the first vaccines in late 2020, Allentown-based Phoebe said its leaders have continued to encourage residents, staff volunteers, and visitors to get the vaccines, which are proven to be safe and effective, it said in a news release.
The release did not say how many employees or others have been inoculated but said “the majority” have received vaccinations.
Some workers are represented by Service Employees International Union. An email message sent Monday to a SEIU representative seeking comment was not immediately returned.
“As a healthcare provider, we are duty bound to protect the vulnerable population we serve,” said Scott Stevenson, Phoebe president and CEO. “Guided by recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is clear that community-wide immunization is a crucial next step to overcoming this pandemic.”
Stevenson also said the nonprofit’s decision “serves the best interests of everyone in our Phoebe community and beyond.”
Phoebe, which operates senior communities in seven Pennsylvania counties, said it provides access to vaccinations through its pharmacy. Among its other operations, Phoebe has senior-care facilities on West Turner Street in Allentown and in Richlandtown, Bucks County.
Genesis Healthcare, which operates more than 350 centers in 25 states including Lehigh Commons in Lower Macungie Township, said this month its employees, contractors, volunteers and others who work in the facilities also must be vaccinated.
Under Genesis’s vaccine mandate, employees, contractors, partners, volunteers and others need to have a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or the first dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine by Aug. 23. If applicable, the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna’s shot would be needed by Sept. 22.