Two regional health care providers to require employee vaccines

LOWELL — Two of the region’s largest health care providers will require vaccines for employees as coronavirus cases — and hospitalizations — rise amid the spread of the delta variant.

Lowell General Hospital’s parent company, Wellforce, notified its employees of the vaccine requirement on Aug. 10.

Last Friday, the Lowell Community Health Center issued its own vaccine mandate.

The local mandates are just a small part of what is predicted to be a “tidal wave” of such requirements following on the heels of Monday’s approval of the Pfizer vaccine by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The Wellforce message to employees stated “Every day we have the privilege of helping people heal and become their best, healthiest selves. These individuals turn to us when they are most vulnerable and trust that we will care for them safely. To serve them well, we also must be our healthiest and best selves and the best way to be healthy amidst this ongoing pandemic is vaccination.

“In June, we announced that vaccination would be required for all our employees and physicians following the full FDA authorization of a COVID-19 vaccine. Today, however, we have more information about the importance of getting vaccinated now. The COVID-19 Delta variant is more contagious than prior strains and has, therefore, caused rising cases. In some parts of the country, hospitals are overwhelmed.”

Lowell General staff who haven’t been vaccinated must do so by Oct. 1.

“The science is clear: this is the very best way to protect yourself, your families, your patients and your communities,” the message stated. “With nearly 18 months of data and hundreds of millions of doses administered, it is also clear that the vaccines are safe and effective, especially in protecting against severe illness, hospitalization and death.”

The hospital also reinstated mandatory masking for vaccinated people anywhere that physical distancing by 6 feet is not possible. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated must continue to wear a mask at all times, and masking remains mandatory for everyone in any areas accessible to patients and visitors.

“We make this change out of an abundance of caution given the rise in COVID-19 cases and new data showing that even vaccinated people can, on occasion, spread the delta variant. These standards help us to continue to be together, engage and enjoy each other’s company while remaining as safe as possible during the current rise in cases. To be clear, we are not reinstating mandatory distancing requirements or room capacity restrictions,” the message read.

According to Lowell General Hospital spokesman Will Courtney, the hospital’s staff vaccination rate stands at nearly 90%. Currently, the hospital has 13 COVID-19 inpatients.

In sharp contrast, Lowell General didn’t have any COVID-19 patients in June.

Amid rising cases, Lowell General also last week tightened its visitor policy. The hospital is currently allowing in-person visitation by one designated support person per patient per admission or outpatient visit. Visitation hours remain from 1 to 7 p.m.

The health center’s Board of Directors approved its vaccine mandate on Thursday.

“This policy is the safest and best way to protect our patients and one another from COVID-19 and be prepared to meet the needs of our patients moving forward. We are making every effort to provide each staff member with educational materials about the COVID vaccine and the options available to them under this new policy,” CEO Susan West Levine and CMO Dr. Kumble Rajesh said in a letter to employees. “For that reason, our chief medical officer and occupational health manager will contact each employee who is impacted by this decision to provide individualized consultation regarding the policy, vaccine safety information, and the exemption process. Should a staff member not be able to comply with this policy, and our hope that this is a last resort, we will support that staff member in their transition from Lowell CHC. This may include job placement support and severance.”

Levine and Rajesh also stated, “We acknowledge that this policy decision has profound implications for some of our coworkers, and we are working to have it unfold with dignity, care and compassion.”

All health center staff will need to be fully vaccinated or approved for an exemption by Oct. 8.

The mandates have been imposed as state health officials reported a spike of 3,335 coronavirus cases over the weekend, as hospitalizations continued to rise amid the spread of the delta variant.

The Boston Herald reported the 3,335 new cases over the weekend was 339 more infections than last weekend’s report.

Hospitalizations also continued to climb over the weekend. The increase of 63 patients now brings the total COVID patient total to 530 patients. That total is back up to where the Bay State was in the beginning of May.

There are now 139 patients in intensive care units, and 68 patients are intubated.

The state recently started listing how many of current patients are vaccinated or unvaccinated. Of the total 530 COVID patients, 155 patients have been fully vaccinated — or 29%. Those who are unvaccinated are at a much higher risk for a severe infection.

More than 4.45 million people in Massachusetts have been fully vaccinated.

State health officials also reported four new COVID deaths, bringing the state’s total recorded death toll to 18,179.

The Herald, quoting Tony Yang of George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health, said that a “tidal wave” of mandates is expected from employers and businesses following the FDA’s action on Monday.

“A tidal wave is coming,” Yang said. “Definitely more employers, businesses, schools and universities will mandate it.”

Just hours after the FDA announcement, the Pentagon said it will require service members to get the shots, and United Airlines moved up its vax deadline for employees.