SSM Health requires employees, volunteers to receive COVID-19 vaccine

A major health care provider announced Monday it will require all of its employees, providers and volunteers to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

SSM Health said it expects around 40,000 of its representatives to be vaccinated by September. So far, 77 percent of Wisconsin employees have been vaccinated.

The requirement includes all of SSM Health’s locations in four states. The goal is to have everyone vaccinated before cold and flu season begins.

SSM Health made the announcement, and encouraged the public to get vaccinated, after news broke of the coronavirus Delta variant. This virus is highly contagious and has been found across the U.S.

According to SSM Health, coronavirus vaccines not only protect against the original virus but also the variant, which is why it is promoting vaccination.

“These vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective at providing long-lasting immunity to COVID-19,” said Dr. Matt Hanley, SSM Health Wisconsin interim regional president, in a statement. “However, we haven’t yet reached a level of vaccination that provides herd immunity, which is why we’re continuing to see dangerous surges in many communities.”

SSM Health said it is providing medical and religious exemptions to the rule, as it does with other vaccines.