El Paso Children’s Hospital Mandates COVID-19 Vaccination

The entire Administrative staff would like to express our utmost appreciation and gratitude for the work you have done throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. While El Paso’s high numbers of COVID-19 patients have declined significantly over the past few months, we anticipate that this virus will likely continue to be a part of our lives and work for the foreseeable future.

To comply with federal COVID-19 vaccination requirements, El Paso Children’s Hospital (EPCH) is mandating that employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by January 4, 2022.
While EPCH has previously encouraged but not mandated vaccination up to this point we have decided in favor of a mandate considering recently issued government regulations.

The vaccination requirement applies to all eligible staff, both current and new, working at EPCH regardless of clinical responsibility or patient contact, including but not limited to:

1. EPCH employees in patient care or administrative roles, regardless of whether such employees work at the EPCH hospital campus (Hospital) or offsite at an EPCH clinic (Clinics) or administrative office;

2. Licensed practitioners with privileges at EPCH who admits and/or treats patients onsite at EPCH Hospital or Clinics;

3. Students;

4. Trainees;

5. Volunteers; and

6. Contracted Staff.

EPCH will facilitate a final clinic of for COVID-19 vaccination on November 22, 2021 for anyone needing their first dose. The second dose will be administered on December 22, 2021. If unable to meet these dates, please visit epstrong.org for other vaccination sites, keeping in mind the first series would need to be started by December 4, 2021 in order to complete the second dose by the January 4, 2022 deadline.

If you are seeking an exemption, please note there are only two if you qualify. In order to be approved for a religious or medical exemption, please visit with HR for the required documentation that would need to be completed and returned by December 15, 2021.

Please note, eligible staff members cannot refuse the vaccine and elect to be regularly tested for COVID-19. While regular testing of unvaccinated individuals who have been granted an exemption or have to temporarily delay receipt of the COVID-19 vaccine is an acceptable mitigation measure, regular testing is not a substitute for the vaccination requirement.

Sincerely,
Thomas Mazza
Human Resources Director