Lifespan, Care New England To Require Staff COVID-19 Vaccines

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island's two largest hospital groups will require staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Care New England and Lifespan announced the new policies Tuesday.

In a statement, Care New England said the company was shifting to "a mandatory vaccination program for all staff across all operating units." All managers will be required to start vaccination programs before Labor Day, the company said.

CNE has required all students, volunteers and new hires to get vaccinated since July 1. The latest decision comes because "it is clear that requiring vaccination is the right move for a trusted healthcare system," the company said.

"It is our responsibility to keep our patients, and our staff, safe," said James Fanale, the company's president and CEO. "This program will be based on the best evidence that we have to date about preventing transmission of COVID-19."

Lifespan will implement a similar policy, effective Sept. 1. The company aims to have all employees vaccinated within 60 days of the mandate going into effect.

"As the region’s leading healthcare system, we feel no greater obligation than to the health and safety of our patients, staff and community," said Kathleen Hart, the director of public relations at Lifespan. "Given the rise in transmission rates of the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19, and recent recommendations from the American Hospital Association, the Association of American Medical Colleges, and other leading healthcare organizations, Lifespan will join other health care systems around the country in requiring all employees, regardless of their role, to be vaccinated against COVID-19."

The decision to implement the policy was made "only after extensive and thoughtful review, and with our employees and patients’ safety as our top priority," Hart continued.

The announcements came the same day that Gov. Dan McKee said he had no intention of requiring COVID-19 vaccines for state employees, citing potential legal concerns. Instead, the state will continue to focus on education and outreach to the unvaccinated, he said.

"I think we've been very successful without a mandate," McKee said Tuesday, noting that "now is the time to double down on vaccination efforts across all age groups."

Related: RI Leaders To Review New CDC Mask Guidance, No Change For Now