OU Health Announces COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement For Employees

OU Health will require its employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19 by Aug. 31, regardless of if they have had the virus previously, the hospital announced Thursday.

This policy includes faculty, staff, trainees/students on rotations and employees in patient and non-patient care areas.

Employees are required to show proof of completion of COVID-19 vaccination two weeks prior to the due date of Aug. 31, said OU Health's Interim Chief Operating Officer Kris Gose, RN.

"Under very limited circumstances, employees may be able to decline the vaccine. Approved reasons include a medical contraindication or religious belief. OU Health truly anticipates that our efforts will protect our patients and employees and will help stop the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19," Gose said.

Effective June 1, 2021, the University of Oklahoma issued a policy requiring faculty, staff and students with patient-facing responsibility to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, subject to limited declination options.

Completed vaccination means a person has received the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine