West Orange, NJ, July 26, 2021– RWJBarnabas Health, the largest academic health care system in New Jersey, is extending its COVID-19 vaccine mandate to all RWJBarnabas Health staff including all employees, new employees and medical staff. The deadline for full vaccination and completion of the second dose is October 15, 2021.
RWJBarnabas Health recently mandated vaccination for staff at the supervisor level and above with great success. As a result, the vast majority of the management team has been vaccinated against COVID-19. As of July 14, 2,979 staff members, or 99.7 percent, who are at the supervisor level and above, have been fully vaccinated or received medical and religious exemptions or a deferral.
“It is critically important for our entire RWJBarnabas Health family to be vaccinated,” said John F. Bonamo, MD, MS, FACOG, FACPE, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical and Quality Officer for RWJBarnabas Health. “As health care workers and team members, we are obligated ethically and professionally to do everything we can to keep our patients and colleagues safe. This obligation is not met if unvaccinated staff are treating and interacting with our patients, or are at risk of spreading COVID-19 to each other.”
Multiple national societies representing medical professionals have jointly recommended that vaccination be required for all health care personnel as a condition of employment, and many health systems, including others in New Jersey, are doing just that. COVID-19 vaccination prevents serious illness, hospitalization and death.
Documented declines in cases since mass vaccination began prove the COVID-19 vaccines are both safe and effective, and are crucial to decreasing the spread of the virus.
As with the mandatory management vaccine program, non-compliance with this mandate will result in separation from the organization.
In addition, all vendors and volunteers will need to show proof of vaccination.
RWJBarnabas Health will continue to offer vaccination for the foreseeable future for all team members as well as the community. To schedule a COVID-19 vaccination, please register at www.rwjbh.org/covid19vaccine.
About RWJBarnabas Health
RWJBarnabas Health is the largest, most comprehensive academic health care system in New Jersey, with a service area covering nine counties with five million people. The system includes eleven acute care hospitals – Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, Community Medical Center in Toms River, Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset in Somerville, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton in Hamilton, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway in Rahway and Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, three acute care children’s hospitals and a leading pediatric rehabilitation hospital with a network of outpatient centers, a freestanding 100-bed behavioral health center, two trauma centers, a satellite emergency department, ambulatory care centers, geriatric centers, the state’s largest behavioral health network, comprehensive home care and hospice programs, fitness and wellness centers, retail pharmacy services, affiliated medical groups, multi-site imaging centers and an accountable care organization.
RWJBH is one of New Jersey’s largest private employers – with more than 35,000 employees, 9,000 physicians and 1,000 residents and interns – and routinely captures national awards for outstanding quality and safety. RWJBH, in partnership with Rutgers University, are creating New Jersey’s largest academic health care system. The collaboration aligns RWJBH with Rutgers’ education, research and clinical activities, including those at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey – the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center – and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.