Mediclinic has announced all of its employees will have to be vaccinated with the Covid-19 vaccine, as part of a mandatory vaccine roll-out.
Tertia Kruger, corporate communication manager, said the company has made the “principle decision” for those working within all Mediclinic hospitals, offices and subsidiaries in South Africa, Namibia and Southern Africa.
“Mediclinic’s aim is to create a safe and positive environment for the treatment of its patients, as well as for its employees, associated doctors, healthcare professionals and other service providers.”
The company states it strongly feels it is the right thing to do to introduce the mandatory vaccine, since the COVID‐19 pandemic has created unprecedented public health and workplace challenges. “We are faced with a global crisis that necessitates decisive action,” says Kruger.
Mandatory vaccine roll out
Factors that were taken into consideration with making this decision within the company, includes the likely duration of the COVID-19 risk, the nature of healthcare as a frontline industry, the nature and severity of the potential harm, the likelihood that the potential harm will occur, the potential harm to patients, the availability of COVID-19 vaccines and their ability to curb the mutation of the virus.
The Mandatory Vaccination Policy will be implemented on 1 October 2021 and will be rolled out in a phased approach with a due date for compulsory vaccination of 1 February 2022, which means all employees will need to be vaccinated in full by this date.
She added that Mediclinic is cognisant of the religious and cultural freedoms of its employees. Mediclinic has endeavoured to balance its employees’ rights by accommodating reasonable exceptions for those unwilling or unable to be vaccinated.
Read the full press release here:
