Community Memorial drops COVID vaccine mandate

Community Memorial Health Network announced it no longer requires employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in order to work there. A number of other health-care facilities in the region have also announced the vaccine change as the state works to repeal the mandate put in place in 2021. (Submitted photo/Community Memorial Health Network)

“The past few years have impacted our daily operations in an effort to keep everyone safe,” CMH Infection Preventionist Shelly Trost said in a press release. “Now, these updates by the New York State Department of Health around COVID have allowed Community Memorial to return to some pre-pandemic procedures while maintaining patient safety.”

Some workers left their jobs over the vaccine mandate, and CHM officials are hopeful the change will help bring them back.

“While Community Memorial recommends employees be vaccinated against all necessary infectious diseases, we anticipate this change in regulation will better allow us to fill open positions,” Leeann Light, VP of human resources, said. “We welcome colleagues that were part of the CMH family and left due to the mandate to consider returning.”

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Along with the hospital, Community Memorial operates family health centers in Hamilton, Cazenovia, Morrisville, Munnsville, and Waterville. CMH serves Madison County as well as parts of Chenango, Oneida, and Onondaga counties.

 

Traci DeLore: