Freeman not requiring employees to get COVID-19 vaccine

In response to inquiries about the issue and a recent decision from Mercy Hospital, Freeman Health System says they will not be requiring employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Freeman President and CEO Paula Baker issued the following statement:

“Freeman is continuing to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation in all our facilities and throughout the
community, but currently, we are not issuing a policy mandating the vaccine to our employees.

That said, we strongly encourage employees to get vaccinated. Additionally, we persistently enforce our
mask-wearing policy and restricted visitor guidelines for everyone’s health and well-being. In fact, our
physicians and other staff have responded very favorably to the need for COVID-19 vaccination. A large
percentage of our physicians and direct-care staff have already received the vaccination in one of our
many ongoing COVID-19 vaccination clinics.

Our employees in direct healthcare wear masks as required by OSHA in following CDC guidelines, which
require masks whether vaccinated or not.”

This news comes as the Delta variant of the virus has been spreading rapidly in the area.

The Associated Press reports that 17 more people in southwest Missouri died from COVID-19 in a two-week period ending Sunday as the coronavirus surges in the region. The Springfield-Greene County Health Department reported Tuesday that the deaths were recorded in the two-week reporting period from June 21 to July 4. The Kansas City Star reports that the dead ranged in age from 40s to 90s. Officials say none of those who died were fully vaccinated.