COVID Vaccine Required For All Staff At Trinitas Medical Center

ELIZABETH, NJ — Trinitas Regional Medical Center announced Thursday it is mandating all its staff, including physicians who practice at the facility, to become fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or to register a valid medical or religious exemption by Oct. 1.

"Over the last year and a half, all of us at Trinitas have witnessed how debilitating and deadly COVID-19 can be," said Gary S. Horan, President & Chief Executive Officer of Trinitas. "We realize there is no better way of protecting our patients, visitors, community and each other than to take this step of mandating the vaccine among our employees and medical staff."

Trinitas has 2,700 employees and a medical staff of 500 physicians.

Any employee who refuses to follow Trinitas' mandate will be fired, private practicing physicians who do not comply will be suspended, and vendors must show proof of vaccination before entering the hospital at 225 Williamson St. in Elizabeth.

The Medical Center already requires volunteers and students to be vaccinated or have a valid medical or religious exemption.

"In late December, we were in the forefront of encouraging our staff and community to take advantage of the protections offered by the COVID-19 vaccines," said Horan. "These vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective, and our best tool in preventing the spread of COVID including the new variants. Those who received the vaccine have a greatly diminished chance of catching this virus. COVID, however, has not been defeated and is in fact posing a new threat by way of the highly contagious Delta variant. We hear each day of new cases in parts of the US and across the globe."

As of Thursday, Trinitas staff have given more than 26,000 doses of the vaccine to staff and the general community.

"I am proud that three-quarters of our staff and 98 percent of our management personnel have chosen to become vaccinated," he said.

Trinitas appears to be the second health system in the state to require its employees receive the COVID-19 vaccine. RWJBarnabas Health issued its own mandate in May.

The mandate at RWJBarnabas Health had some backlash as six people who work in supervisory positions were fired from their jobs after they refused to get a coronavirus vaccine. Read More: 6 RWJBarnabas Employees Fired For Refusing COVID Vaccine

"The American Hospital Association, American Medical Association and American Nurses Association are all in support of COVID vaccine mandates for healthcare workers," said Horan. "I expect all hospitals will take this step in the near future."

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