Beaumont Health To Require COVID-19 Vaccines For All Employees

ROYAL OAK, MI — Beaumont Health is making the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for all employees and providers who practice medicine or work at Beaumont facilities, the health system announced Wednesday.

The mandate will go into effect after the Food and Drug Administration fully approves one or more of the current COVID-19 vaccines, which is expected to take place later this year, the health system said in its announcement.

The health system also noted that if the positive rate for the surrounding communities begins to spike, or if the health system experiences a fourth pandemic surge, the mandate may be implemented prior to FDA approval.

“We have a duty to protect our patients and our staff. The Delta variant is the most contagious form of COVID-19. It spreads much faster than the original version of the virus. We want all Beaumont team members to stay healthy. The vaccine is the only safe and effective way to truly protect against COVID-19,” Beaumont Health CEO John Fox said.

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The mandate includes anyone who works in a Beaumont facility, including employees, volunteers and providers who practice or work at Beaumont facilities. Team members must be fully vaccinated within six weeks of full FDA approval of any viable COVID-19 vaccine.

Team members who do not meet exemptions and refuse to get vaccinated will initially be suspended, the health system said, and those who choose not to be vaccinated will no longer be allowed to work at Beaumont.

“For more than a year, Beaumont has led Michigan in the fight against COVID-19," Fox said. "Through it all, the safety of our patients, their loved ones and our team members has been our number one priority. Our infection control procedures and the low local community positivity rate has enabled us to provide a safe environment.

"However, the new Delta variant changes the risk dynamic moving forward. This requirement is essential and continues our commitment to protecting and serving all Michiganders. Again, this reflects the reality of the new and more infectious COVID-19 variant that now presents additional risks for everyone."

The health system said more information regarding the mandate will be released in the coming weeks.

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