In an effort to ensure the health and safety of both employees and patients, St. Joseph’s Health has followed the guidelines established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) and the State of New Jersey regarding healthcare workers and the COVID-19 vaccine. Today, we received new updated guidelines for employee vaccinations based upon Governor Murphy’s recent executive order regarding the vaccination of healthcare workers. The previous guidelines mandated that all healthcare workers receive the COVID-19 vaccine or obtain a medical or religious exemption and comply with weekly testing by January 4, 2022.
CMS has amended their guidelines regarding the timeframe for compliance with COVID-19 vaccination for all healthcare workers:
- Those unvaccinated (without an exemption) must receive their first dose by January 27, 2022, with a second dose received by February 28, 2022.
- Those already fully vaccinated, but not boosted, must have a booster by February 28, 2022.
- Those having their second dose by February 28, 2022, must have a booster within 3 weeks of becoming eligible for a booster (timing is vaccine- dependent).
St. Joseph’s Health will continue to follow the CDC guidelines regarding vaccination of healthcare workers. Therefore, the remaining group of unvaccinated/non-exempted St. Joseph’s employees will be contacted directly and provided the opportunity to receive vaccination, as a condition of continued employment. Their supervisors/managers will be communicating with them, in addition to a letter provided to each employee’s home.
Unvaccinated employees must receive the first vaccine dose (2 dose series of Pfizer/Moderna or a single dose of J&J) or submit a religious or medical exemption application by Thursday, January 27, 2022. All exemption requests are reviewed by separate panels. If exempted, weekly testing is required.
If the employee has not been fully vaccinated or have an approved exemption by February 28, 2022, the employee will be placed on a seven day unpaid administrative leave. If the employee does not comply by the end of the seven day administrative leave, the employee will be considered to have voluntarily resigned his/her position and will be separated from employment.
COVID-19 Vaccines are available in the following locations:
- St. Joseph’s University Medical Center, Madison Room
Monday – Friday: 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- St. Joseph’s Wayne Medical Center, Employee Health Office
Monday: 7:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday and Friday: 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- St. Joseph’s Healthcare & Rehab Center, Auxiliary Hall
Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Please call Extension 4838 to make an appointment.
- St. Joseph’s Employee Health Office, Clifton
Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. If you have received a COVID-19 vaccination outside of our internal Employee Health process, please submit your documentation of vaccination to ehdocs@sjhmc.org as soon as you receive the vaccine.
If you have any questions, please contact Employee Health at 973-754-2265