NEENAH (NBC 26) — Citing a rise in COVID cases, ThedaCare announced Wednesday that it will require all employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
ThedaCare said this includes all employed ThedaCare team members and providers, as well as independent affiliated providers, medical staff, contracted staff, volunteers, students and others who work or provide care at ThedaCare facilities.
“Throughout the pandemic, we have monitored and proactively adjusted our plans to create the safest environment possible for everyone in our facilities,” said Imran A. Andrabi, MD, ThedaCare President and CEO. “The decision to require the COVID-19 vaccine was made after careful consideration, with the focus of protecting our patients, visitors, caregivers and the overall communities we serve.”
Team members who have yet to receive the COVID-19 vaccine must meet the requirement by November 22, 2021. As it says it has done in years past, ThedaCare is also requiring team members to receive an annual influenza vaccination.
"ThedaCare only recommends vaccines that are deemed to be safe," the health organization said in a statement.
NBC 26 spoke with Dr. Imran Andrabi on Wednesday. In regards to high hospital capacity, he said hospital beds are, "not to be found."
"Yesterday I was on a call with my colleagues in Minnesota trying to figure out if we had to start thinking about ICU beds across the state lines. Those are not good places to be," said Dr. Andrabi.
When asked if he's concerned about losing staff during an already nation-wide nursing shortage, Dr. Andrabi said this:
"I hope that our team members that are just excellent, phenomenal at what they do will understand the 'why.' Will understand what we are trying to do not only for them but for their coworkers, their family members, and for the community as well."
From August 1 to September 21, 2021, the total number of COVID-19 hospitalizations increased six-fold in the Fox Valley region, according to a statement from ThedaCare. In that same timeframe, ThedaCare says there were five times the number of COVID-19 intensive care unit hospitalizations. More than 90% of patients being treated in Fox Valley hospitals for COVID-19 are unvaccinated.