As you know, those who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 cannot enter many places unless they have a PCR test twice a week. In fact, the only way to enter some venues and activities is to have received 2 doses of the vaccine. The reason for this is that those who are vaccinated are not only less likely to get sick, but also less likely to carry the virus. However, while the opposition to the vaccine continues, not everyone can extend their arm for a click.
One of the institutions most affected by this problem is hospitals. Because unvaccinated health workers exist, albeit few, and they are together with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people every day. Even counting only the patients they care for and are close to, it is possible for a single infected healthcare worker to spread the virus to dozens of people. One hospital in the USA was suffering from this problem, as other hospitals could. The hospital management, which has dozens of employees who refused to be vaccinated and could not take the risk, laid off about 200 employees.
“We have no other choice”
UMass Memorial Health hospital, located in the US state of Massachusetts, required its unvaccinated employees to be vaccinated until 1 November. 98% of employees have been vaccinated, whether they are anti-vaccine or pro-vaccine. The hospital management waited another month to impose sanctions on the 2% who refused to be vaccinated. Not wanting to put the hospital environment, staff and patients at any more risk, the management terminated the contracts of over 200 unvaccinated employees.
The hospital management stated that they had no other choice as other people’s health was also at stake. Recently, a decision was taken that would impose similar obligations in working areas outside the hospital. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that from December 27, private sector employees will be required to be vaccinated. Apart from this, there is not such a comprehensive regulation for now, but while there is plenty of time for the spread of drugs, it is possible that we will hear such decisions from many organizations and authorities.