Northeast Georgia Health System will no longer require employees and Medical Staff to get the COVID-19 vaccine or wear masks if they have not received the vaccine, effective Saturday.
According to a press release from the organization, the change in policy comes after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced it would be eliminating its COVID-19 vaccination requirements for healthcare workers and suppliers, which has led NGHS and many other healthcare centers to do the same.
However, despite this change, NGHS still advises masks for anyone visiting one of its facilities, especially for those who are immunocompromised. Additionally, NGHS still encourages the community to get a COVID-19 vaccine, per CDC guidelines.
“I want to thank our community – which includes everyone who works inside of our hospitals and other locations – for joining the fight against COVID-19 the past few years,” Carol Burrell, president and CEO of NGHS, said. “I know it wasn’t always easy, but you were flexible when new guidelines were released and are part of why we’re able to no longer have these requirements.”
To learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and how you or your family can stay up to date, visit cdc.gov/coronavirus.
