UK St. Claire Collaborates with Other Kentucky Hospitals to Require Staff Vaccinations against COVID-19

UK St. Claire (SCH) joins a coalition of hospitals across the state of Kentucky to require all staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

The healthcare facilities below are committed to the health and safety of our patients and employees. In support of this commitment, we will all require our healthcare workforce to initiate a complete COVID-19 vaccination series no later than September 15, 2021.

• Appalachian Regional Healthcare
• Baptist Health
• King’s Daughters Health System
• Med Center Health
• Mercy Health – Lourdes Hospital
• Norton Healthcare
• Pikeville Medical Center
• UK HealthCare
• UofL Health
• UK St. Claire
• St. Elizabeth Healthcare
• CHI Saint Joseph Health

“This opportunity to collaborate with health systems across the commonwealth, is not only a good outcome for our staff and patients, it is in my view a demonstration of our collective commitment to safety, accountability, and in keeping with our moral and ethical obligation to do no harm,” said Donald H. Lloyd, II, SCH President/CEO.

The new vaccination requirement will apply to all staff, volunteers, students, residents, locum tenums, travel staff, contract workers, on-site vendors conducting business and present in any area where patient contact may occur, and healthcare professionals with facility privileges at any SCH facility. All new hires will be required to provide proof of vaccination, or initiate a vaccination series, prior to beginning work.

“For nearly two years we’ve been facing the unknowns of COVID-19. It’s critical that we do everything in our power to protect our staff, our patients, and our community as the Delta variant continues to spread quickly throughout the United States,” said Lloyd.

While this new requirement for SCH staff is not a state mandate, SCH knows that it is the best decision in order to be proactive in the fight against COVID-19.

“To end this battle, we have to increase vaccinations in the communities we serve, and as the healthcare leader in our region, we must lead by example,” said Lloyd. “We believe it’s the right thing to do for the safety of our workforce, our patients, our visitors, and the communities of Eastern Kentucky.”

SCH continues to offer COVID-19 vaccines to anyone that may be eligible. If you would like to schedule an appointment for yourself or your child (age 12 or older) to be vaccinated, please call 606.783.7539.