AdventHealth suspends COVID-19 vaccine requirements for employees

AdventHealth recently announced an update to its COVID-19 vaccination requirements for employees. 

The healthcare organization announced on Thursday, Dec. 2, it plans to suspend the COVID-19 vaccine mandate that was previously in place for employees.

AdventHealth had previously sent a letter to employees saying they had until Monday, Dec. 6, to get their first shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or a single shot of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, and until Jan. 4 to receive the second dose of the two-shot vaccines.

The suspension of the employee vaccine requirements comes shortly after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill to prevent private employers from enforcing vaccine mandates, among other legislation.

Although recent court decisions resulted in the healthcare organization's reconsideration of a vaccine mandate, AdventHealth said it still strongly encourages team members to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. 

“Based on scientific evidence and what we see in our hospitals every day, COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at reducing both the risk of becoming infected and the level of harm in the case of a breakthrough infection,” AdventHealth said in a statement. “As part of our commitment to protecting the health and well-being of our team members, patients and communities, we strongly encourage all of our team members to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.”