UK HealthCare joins several other Kentucky hospital systems and will no longer require employees to get a Covid-19 vaccination

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By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

Federal rules requiring Covid-19 vaccinations in health-care settings were lifted in early June, and while several of the larger Kentucky hospital systems soon lifted their requirements, UK HealthCare's new policy didn't kick in until this month. 

"As of August 1, 2023, UK HealthCare will no longer require Covid-19 vaccination as a condition of employment," the university announced last Monday. "UK HealthCare will continue to monitor vaccine and positivity rates for adverse outcomes and will reassess this decision if indicated or new federal or state guidelines require it."

The hospital said it plans to encourage Covid-19 vaccination with no disciplinary action if not obtained and will reconsider the requirement when Covid vaccine recommendations become similar to those for influenza. 

"As the schedule, dosage and other features of Covid vaccination mature, we will consider instituting a requirement similar to flu vaccination (at defined intervals, when an efficient process to enforce it is available)," the university said. 

In mid-July, Kentucky Health News reported that Norton Healthcare and Appalachian Regional Healthcare, which has 14 hospitals in Kentucky and West Virginia, had changed their policies to no longer require Covid-19 vaccination.