Integris Health will require workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19
Integris Health is joining several health systems in Oklahoma in requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for its staff.
Now that the Pfizer vaccine has received full approval from the federal Food and Drug Administration, Integris Health will have a COVID-19 vaccination policy similar to its policy for annual flu shots.
Staff will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or be granted an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Those seeking an exemption must request one by Oct. 15; otherwise, they are required to be fully vaccinated by Nov. 1.
So far, about 70% of Integris caregivers are vaccinated, a spokeswoman said.
Health systems have been among the largest Oklahoma employers to require vaccinations for their staff, and the FDA’s approval of the Pfizer vaccine may pave the way for more employers to require the shots.
OU Health, Mercy and SSM Health have similar policies in place for their workers. OU Health has an Aug. 31 deadline for full vaccination for its faculty, staff, trainees and students on rotations to be vaccinated or receive an exemption.
SSM Health and Mercy’s policies require all employees, providers and volunteers to be fully vaccinated or given an exemption by the end of September.
The policies — which health leaders have said are designed to protect their workforce as well as their patients — have been met with protests and calls for the governor to intervene. Hospitals have been overwhelmed again by the latest COVID-19 surge, fueled by the fast-spreading delta variant, as they grapple with staff shortages.