MU Health Care requiring COVID-19 booster for staff and students
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
MU Health Care announced Thursday, it will require a booster shot as part of its COVID-19 vaccination rules for staff.
The vaccination requirement is expanding to include boosters for all employees, students and providers who work, learn or practice medicine at MU Health Care or MU School of Medicine facilities.
Eric Maze, the spokesman for MU Health Care, says the requirement will affect around 9,000 staff and learners.
Boosters will be required by April 5.
The same exemptions the hospital had for its initial vaccine series requirement apply to the booster as well. Staff and students may receive medical or religious exemptions.
MU's first coronavirus vaccine requirement went into effect last October.
"We are pleased that, across our organization, we achieved a high compliance rate with our initial vaccination requirement,” said Richard J. Barohn, MD, executive vice chancellor for health affairs for the University of Missouri. “As the Omicron variant continues to spread and prevalence rates in Boone County and in our 25-county service area continue to climb, we are updating our policy to ensure we’re doing all we can to prevent disease and keep our workforce healthy and able to care for our community.”
Several hospitals throughout Missouri adopted a mandate from the Biden administration requiring health care workers to get the coronavirus vaccine.
Dave Dillion, with the Missouri Hospitals Association, said he thinks this is a step in the right direction for hospitals as the omicron variant continues to surge across the state.
"It entirely makes sense for those who received vaccines early because they were the first in line, to boost their immunity," Dillon said.
Dillion said hospitals are likely to follow the CDC guidance or state health department on what fully vaccinated means. As of now, that term doesn't include a booster shot, but Dillon said its the right thing to do.
"There's what you're required to do and then there's what's in the best interest of patients, and staff members and visitors and in this case being boosted is a very good thing," Dillon said.
At this time this is the first Mid-Missouri hospital we have heard this is now requiring boosters.
Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson city says it will not yet require booster doses for workers.
