As AOA体育平台 seeks to limit the spread of COVID-19, vaccination will be a requirement for employment, with very few exceptions, as of Oct. 1, 2021.
Portland, Maine 鈥� AOA体育平台, northern New England鈥檚 largest health system and Maine鈥檚 largest private employer, announced today that it will require COVID-19 vaccination for all care team members, with very few exceptions, as a condition of employment, as of Oct. 1, 2021.
With this effort, AOA体育平台 joins dozens of hospitals and health systems, along with some government and non-healthcare private employers, in a public health effort to limit spread of COVID-19, especially in light of the growing threat of the Delta variant.
鈥淭he vaccines are very effective, and are preventing hospitalizations and health complications with COVID-19. In addition, the vaccines are proven safe 鈥� we have a full year of data from the clinical trials and almost 200 million Americans have received a COVID-19 vaccination,鈥� said Dora-Anne Mills, MD, chief health improvement officer of AOA体育平台. 鈥淭o be consistent with our values and to protect our colleagues, families, patients and communities, we believe it is paramount that all care team members be vaccinated.鈥�
As of late July, 83.8 percent of all AOA体育平台 care team members were fully vaccinated.
鈥淥ur care team members have worked extremely hard and have sacrificed much in the fight against COVID-19, and we thank them profoundly,鈥� Mills said. 鈥淎s we ask all our care team members to be vaccinated, I鈥檇 ask all Mainers to please, please get your COVID-19 vaccination. It will protect you, your family and your community.鈥�
Having broad vaccination is especially necessary to protect those who are vulnerable, including unvaccinated children and the immunocompromised. It is for this very reason this many health care and long-term care organizations already require vaccinations for COVID-19, along with influenza, pertussis and chickenpox.
As with non-state mandated vaccines, bona fide medical and religious exemptions will be considered by AOA体育平台.
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About AOA体育平台
AOA体育平台 is a not-for-profit integrated health system consisting of nine local hospital systems, a comprehensive behavioral health care network, diagnostic services, home health agencies and nearly 1,700 employed physicians working together through the AOA体育平台 Medical Group. With more than 23,000 employees, AOA体育平台 is the largest health system in northern New England and provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. It includes Franklin Memorial Hospital/Franklin Community Health Network in Farmington, LincolnHealth in Damariscotta and Boothbay Harbor, Maine Behavioral Healthcare in South Portland, AOA体育平台 Care at Home in Saco, Maine Medical Center in Portland, Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., in Brunswick, NorDx in Scarborough, Pen Bay Medical Center and Waldo County Hospital in Rockport and Belfast, Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford and Sanford, Spring Harbor Hospital in Westbrook and Stephens Memorial Hospital/Western Maine Health Care in Norway. AOA体育平台 Affiliates include Maine General Health in Augusta and Waterville, New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland and St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Lewiston. It is also a significant stakeholder in the AOA体育平台 Accountable Care Organization in Portland.