August 3, 2021
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Due to the resurgent spread of COVID-19 and evolving variants that are highly contagious, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is adding the COVID-19 vaccine to its non-discretionary vaccine policy. This policy applies to all faculty, staff and students of The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, including the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (The James), the College of Medicine and OSU Physicians, Inc., who are already required to receive an annual influenza vaccination. Individuals covered by this expanded requirement will have to receive either the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or an approved vaccine exemption prior to Friday, October 15, 2021.
“As health care providers, we know getting vaccinated is the best way to build immunity and to protect our patients, our colleagues, our families, and ourselves. We’re proud that more than 72% of our over 27,000 employees have already chosen to be vaccinated against COVID-19. With the highly infectious Delta variant and cases rising once again in Ohio, now is the time to move forward with this expansion of our vaccine requirements to include the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Dr. Hal Paz, executive vice president and chancellor for Health Affairs at The Ohio State University and chief executive officer of the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.
According to the Ohio Department of Health, nearly all COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in the state are occurring in people who are not fully vaccinated. The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center strongly encourages all individuals who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
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Media Contact: Marti Leitch, Wexner Medical Center Media Relations, Marti.Leitch@osumc.edu