DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – Two of the major children’s hospitals in DFW announced on Wednesday that they will require the COVID-19 vaccine for employees.
Children’s Health in Dallas said all employees must be vaccinated by October 1.
Cook Children’s Health Care System in Fort Worth said every employee, physician, provider, credentialed staff, student, volunteer, contractor and on-site vendor will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by noon on Sept. 27. To be considered fully vaccinated, one must have received either one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine by the deadline.
In an email to more than 8,000 Cook Children’s employees, President and CEO Rick W. Merrill attributed the decision to the increasing rates of COVID-19 in Tarrant County. Public health officials in the region say community spread of the virus is once again considered ‘high’ due to the surging delta variant.
“The delta variant is very contagious and many of our patients are vulnerable to COVID-19 because they can’t get vaccinated at this time,” said Merrill. “I personally received the vaccine in December, as did more than 95% of our physicians and two thirds of our employees. Given how close we are to critically-ill children, we know this is the right decision for our system and ultimately our patients.”
There are currently 24 children being treated at Cook Children’s Medical Center for COVID-19. The rate of positive cases seen across the health care system over the past week is now 11.3%. On June 2, that rate was 1%.
The children’s hospitals join Baylor Scott & White, Methodist, and Texas Health Resources as local health systems that will require the COVID vaccine for their workforce. Mandates regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and health care workers are supported by the Children’s Hospital Association, American Hospital Association, American Nursing Association, American Medical Association and Texas Nurses Association.
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