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Long-term care facilities requiring COVID-19 vaccine for employees


Photo by Alyssa Hui{p}{/p}
Photo by Alyssa Hui

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Long-term care facilities in Sangamon County will soon be requiring the COVID-19 vaccine for some of its employees.

One of those long-term care facilities is Heritage Health in Springfield. They will be requiring all of their employees to get the vaccine as soon as one is approved fully by the Food and Drug Administration also known as the FDA.

The President and CEO of Heritage Operations Group Benjamin Hart said on September 6, employees must provide proof of vaccination or will have to work while wearing an N95 mask.

But once a vaccine receives full approval from the FDA, then 60 days thereafter all employees will need to be fully vaccinated as a condition of employment.

Hart said this mandate is an obligation they have to keep their patients and residents safe.

“We feel we have a responsibility to protect the most vulnerable residents who we care for who are in their 80s and 90s and have multiple underlying health conditions and are most vulnerable and at-risk to COVID-19,” said Hart. “We feel it is the right thing to do to encourage our team members to get vaccinated.”

Fully vaccinated staff in all of the facilities and communities within Heritage Health Operations can work with no restrictions unless mandates are put into place by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Hart explained that there will be exemptions made but only for employees that have special circumstances that include but are not limited to religious beliefs and practices and specific health conditions like allergic reactions to vaccines.

According to Heritage Operations Group, 65% of their employees and 92% of their patients and residents are currently vaccinated.

To view more information on the vaccine mandate for Heritage of Care, click here.

News channel 20 and Fox Illinois called 11 other long-term care facilities in Sangamon County.

Below is a list of facilities that got back to us regarding their potential vaccine mandates.

Christian Horizons (River Birch Living)

We have informed our associates that the receipt of COVID and flu vaccines is a condition of employment effective November 15, 2021. We have not mandated our residents to receive the COVID vaccination. We continue to follow the expert guidance, care standards, and infection prevention protocols in caring for our residents.

Lutheran Senior Services (Concordia Village)

To protect the older adults we serve and our team members who care for them, all Lutheran Senior Services (LSS) employees will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by September 1, 2021. All new employees will be required to show proof of vaccination or be vaccinated as part of the employment process. During the height of the pandemic, our residents missed time with their family and friends due to visitor restrictions. Having a fully vaccinated staff will greatly reduce the opportunity for COVID-19 outbreaks within our communities allowing them to remain open for visitors. We will continue to offer opportunities for employees to be vaccinated in our communities and to provide information about other vaccination location options in the area. Lutheran Senior Services (LSS) is a mission-driven, not-for-profit network that specializes in housing, care, and supportive services for older adults 62+. With 21 locations in Missouri and Illinois, LSS serves more than 13,000 seniors a year through options that include Senior Living Communities offering all levels of living, Affordable Housing for those with limited incomes, and Home & Community Based Services. LSS builds upon more than 160 years of excellence in living out its Christian mission of Older Adults Living Life to the Fullest.

Other long-term care facilities including Villas of South Park Assisted Living, Regency Care, Bickford of Springfield, and Centennial Pointe Senior Living did not get back to us at this time.

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