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July 14, 2021

Yale New Haven Health sets dates on vaccine mandate for staff

PHOTO | File image Yale New Haven Hospital.
By Liese Klein

“You will get COVID, or you will get a vaccine.”

That was the blunt assessment of Yale New Haven Health’s top doctor on Wednesday when asked about the spread of the super-contagious new Delta variant of COVID-19.

Dr. Thomas Balcezak, chief medical officer of the health system, said that despite falling demand, Yale New Haven was doing everything it could to promote vaccination.

Part of that effort includes mandated vaccines for the system’s nearly 29,000 employees. All workers have until Aug. 31 to get their first shot, and Sept. 30 is the deadline to complete vaccination. 

After that, warnings will be issued and the worker may be on track for termination. 

Yale New Haven’s unions and employee associations have endorsed the mandate for the most part, CEO Marna Borgstom said. One union in New London, home to Yale New Haven Health’s Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, is still negotiating with the system, she added. 

“They care about their membership as well and have supported the safety issues that this reflects,” Borgstrom said.

Employees who express “spiritual and religious” objections to getting vaccinated must fill out applications that will be evaluated by human resources, occupational health and spiritual care workers. 

At a town hall on Tuesday, several YNHH workers asked to delay vaccination until all vaccines have FDA approval, but Borgstrom said she didn’t see such requests as a “major factor” holding back compliance. 

Only 11 patients with COVID-19 were hospitalized across Yale New Haven Health’s facilities as of Wednesday, near the all-time low of last August. None required ventilators. 

Continuing low numbers of cases, despite a slight rise in positive COVID tests, reflects the success of Connecticut’s vaccine campaign, YNHH officials said. 

Even so, the health officials warned residents not to get complacent with the rise of new variants. 

“Our staff is very tired — for them we don’t want to see a spike,” Borgstrom said. “Vaccinations are important and they are making a difference.”

Contact Liese Klein at lklein@newhavenbiz.com.

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