CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is requiring workforce to get vaccinated
This includes employees who work remotely, though the organization will allow individuals to apply for a medical or religious exemption.
Photo: Morsa Images/Getty Images
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield has joined the growing list of healthcare companies requiring its workforce to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is among the largest insurers in the mid-Atlantic region. It serves an estimated 3.5 million individuals and employers in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. Its entire workforce, boards of directors and contingent workers who enter CareFirst facilities or engage in-person with community and business partners on behalf of the health system are mandated to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
The requirement is part of the nonprofit's overall strategy to achieve the target vaccination rates that will end the pandemic, setting a deadline for Nov. 1 for unvaccinated employees.
That includes employees who work remotely today or in the future, though the organization will allow individuals to apply for a medical or religious exemption.
CareFirst said it will enforce the same guidelines for guests who enter the company's facilities and attend CareFirst-sponsored events, and noted that CareFirst employees and contingent workers will not be required to attend in-person functions or meetings where similar protocols are not enforced.
WHY THIS MATTERS
About half, 50.9%, of the United States population has been fully vaccinated, according to the COVID Data Tracker updated daily by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That number climbs to 70.1% for the population 12 years and older who have received at least one dose, the CDC said.
In Florida, considered the epicenter of the current COVID-19 surge, the number of individuals who are getting their first shot is climbing, according to Justin Senior, CEO of the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida, which has 14 hospital systems in its network.
Vaccines are seen as the best prevention against getting the coronavirus and stopping the spread of the disease.
THE LARGER TREND
Overall, the increasing number of COVID-19 cases nationwide from unvaccinated individuals has led to more federal agencies, states, health systems and hospitals mandating vaccines for healthcare workers.
Leading hospital organizations including the American Hospital Association and the Association of American Medical Colleges have backed hospitals and health systems that implement mandatory vaccination policies.
Some health systems like Kaiser Permanente launched programs to provide vaccine incentives. At other health systems, vaccinated requirements have gotten pushback from staff. Over 100 employees at Houston Methodist in Texas balked at mandates to get vaccinated. A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by some of the Houston Methodist employees.
Maine and New York are two states that recently announced vaccine mandates for healthcare workers, including those who are employed in long-term care.
Public health leaders have urged the private sector to take steps to maximize the number of vaccinations and to create #COVIDSafeZones.
Lottery-based incentives have so far failed to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates, and a bitter partisan divide over mask mandates and rules for children and teachers returning to school in the fall has slowed progress in fighting the virus.
Many Americans remain resistant to getting a vaccine that has not received full approval from the Food and Drug Administration. The Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines have gotten FDA emergency use approval.
ON THE RECORD
"It's critical to be clear in explaining to our workforce why we've made this decision," Angela Celestin, EVP, chief human resources officer of CareFirst, said by statement. "We view this decision as an extension of our ongoing transformation efforts intended to optimize how and where we work. This includes building a safe environment for in-person collaboration. CareFirst must be future-ready as we emerge as a more hybrid workforce that is deeply engaged in communities throughout the region."
Twitter: @dropdeaded209
Email the writer: nathaneddy@gmail.com
