Southwest Missouri health system requires employee vaccines

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — One of Missouri’s biggest hospital systems says it will require its employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The announcement Monday from CoxHealth came just hours after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave its full approval to Pfizer’s version of the drug. CoxHealth, which is based in Springfield but has several other facilities in southwestern Missouri, says workers have until Oct. 15 to get at least their first vaccine dose or risk losing their jobs. CEO Steve Edwards says “careful consideration” will be given to requests for exemptions for religious or health reasons, and that anyone granted exemptions will be required to undergo coronavirus testing. CoxHealth officials say about 70% of the system’s employees are already vaccinated.