Empath Health Announces COVID-19 Vaccine Policy

CLEARWATER & SARASOTA, Fla. (August 25, 2021)—Empath Health has announced a policy that requires colleagues, volunteers and vendors to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The full-life care provider serving Tampa Bay and southwest Florida provides care and support for those with chronic and advanced illnesses and/or those dealing with grief. Suncoast Hospice and Tidewell Hospice are members of the Empath Health family of companies.
 
“As a community health organization, Empath Health’s highest priority is to protect the health and safety of our clients, colleagues, volunteers and communities. Empath Health is deeply committed to the promotion of and participation in public health and safety. Vaccines play a vital role in public health and safety, and the COVID-19 vaccine continues to demonstrate efficacy in protecting individual health and limiting the spread of COVID-19,” said Nevile Sarkari, MD, FACP, Tidewell Hospice chief medical officer.

The vaccine policy is an initiative of Empath Health senior leadership in consultation with the organization’s clinical experts and with endorsement from the board of directors.

“The medical evidence tells us that vaccination for COVID-19 is safe and effective. Since protecting our colleagues and patients is always our prime concern, requiring the vaccine for all our colleagues, volunteers, students and vendors is absolutely the right thing to do. I do not doubt that these actions will help save many people from illness and death and will help the overall health of the communities that we serve every day,” said Sarkari.

In order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Empath Health’s vaccine policy requires all colleagues and volunteers to become vaccinated against COVID-19 and support vaccination for all patients who qualify. All colleagues and volunteers must comply with the vaccination requirement and present proof of full vaccination status (two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) by Nov. 1, 2021. In addition, vendors who interact with clients, colleagues or volunteers must also comply with the policy.

Empath Health will consider individual exemptions to the vaccine requirement on a case-by-case basis relating to religious beliefs or medical concerns. Colleagues and volunteers granted exceptions may be subject to additional masking requirements and ongoing COVID-19 testing.

Visit empathhealth.org for more information.