ANTHC commits to a fully vaccinated workforce
July 9, 2021ANTHC commits to a fully vaccinated workforce
The health and safety of the people we serve, our workforce and our community are the top priority of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. A fully vaccinated workforce is a necessary component of providing a safe workplace as we return to normal operations.
To date, the Centers for Disease Control has reviewed the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccinations and has identified these vaccines as an important tool to help stop the spread of the virus.
“Achieving and sustaining high vaccination coverage in our communities is proven to help save lives and reduce disease burden, especially for our Alaska Native population and our Elders,” said Valerie Nurr’araaluk Davidson, ANTHC President. “ANTHC is proud to join other organizations in service of our people, as we find ways to safely return to more normal operations.”
This new procedure is intended to maximize immunity and minimize transmission of COVID-19 on the ANMC accredited campus and wider community through vaccination of all ANTHC staff. The goal is to protect patients, staff, and the community from contracting and spreading the SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Effective July 15, 2021, COVID-19 vaccination will become a requirement for employment at ANTHC. Employees will have 90 days (October 15, 2021) to become compliant with the new procedure.
Safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines are authorized for use by the FDA and available to all ANTHC staff. Vaccinations provide immunity that reduces the chance of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 and also decreases the chance of being an asymptomatic carrier of the virus. Increasing Alaska’s population of immune individuals through vaccination is a tool we have to end the pandemic and scale back other infection control measures, such as universal masking and physical distancing.
More information about COVID-19 vaccines and the vaccine approval process is available and frequently updated on the CDC’s website at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/