FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 9, 2021
Saratoga Hospital Requires That Employees Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 by Sept. 7 or Undergo Weekly Testing
Vaccination policy includes deferrals, exemptions; Employees who don’t comply with the policy will be placed on leave
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y., Aug. 9, 2021—Saratoga Hospital is requiring that all employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Sept. 7 or be tested for the virus weekly.
The vaccination policy, announced to hospital employees today, requires them to provide proof of vaccination by the Sept. 7 deadline or start weekly testing. The policy also includes exemptions and deferrals. Those who do not comply with the policy will be placed on leave.
“As Saratoga County’s only hospital and as a major employer, we owe it to patients and staff to do everything possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ensure that our facilities are safe for all who work here and rely on us for care,” said Angelo Calbone, Saratoga Hospital president and CEO.
“The evidence is clear: These vaccines save lives,” he added. “COVID-19 vaccines are extremely effective at preventing serious illness, hospitalization and death. We feel strongly that they must be part of any response to one of the most dangerous health threats in our lifetimes.”
The policy reflects guidance from the hospital’s medical staff, board of trustees and individuals across the Saratoga Hospital organization. Discussions also included other affiliates in the Albany Med Health System and healthcare providers throughout Northeastern New York.
The policy will be reviewed regularly and updated to reflect changing conditions, new knowledge and the latest CDC guidance.
Saratoga Hospital joins more than 90 hospitals and health systems nationwide in requiring COVID-19 vaccination for employees. New York State has announced it will require state employees to be vaccinated as of Labor Day. And nearly 60 major medical organizations—including the American Medical Association and American Nurses Association—have called for “all healthcare and long-term care employers to require their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.”
“The delta variant has arrived in our region, and COVID-19 cases are rising, especially among those who have not been vaccinated,” Calbone said. “Requiring vaccinations will protect our employees and their families, our patients, those who are too young to get vaccinated and those who are immunocompromised.
“From the beginning, we’ve said we’re all in this together,” he added. “That includes getting vaccinated for the good of our community.”
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About Saratoga Hospital: Saratoga Hospital is the Saratoga region’s leading healthcare provider and the only acute-care facility in Saratoga County. The hospital’s multispecialty practice, Saratoga Hospital Medical Group, provides care at more than 20 locations, ensuring easy access to programs and services that can have the greatest impact on individual and community health. Saratoga Hospital has maintained Magnet designation for nursing excellence since 2004. The hospital is an affiliate of the Albany Med Health System, which also includes Albany Medical Center Hospital, Columbia Memorial Health and Glens Falls Hospital. The region’s largest locally governed health system, it has 1,520 beds, more than 800 physicians and 125 outpatient locations. For more information: www.SaratogaHospital.org or www.facebook.com/SaratogaHospital.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Peter M. Hopper
Director, Marketing and Communications
518-583-8679
phopper@saratogahospital.org