Silver Cross To Require COVID-19 Vaccines For All Workers

NEW LENOX, IL — Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox will require that all employees, medical staff members, volunteers, students and vendors be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Nov. 15, according to a news release from the hospital.

The hospital cited an increase in cases and an increase in the positivity rate in Will County, as well as the growing number of hospitalizations among those infected with the coronavirus, as the reason for the new requirement.

“At Silver Cross, our top priority is the safety of our patients and our staff,” Chief Medical Officer Dr. Chris Udovich was quoted as saying. “The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective and the best tool we have at our disposal to end the pandemic. Requiring our entire Silver Cross family to get vaccinated is the right thing to do.”

The hospital made its vaccine decision following consultation with medical experts, hospital leadership and with the unanimous approval of the hospital’s Medical Executive Committee, the release stated.

As the highly contagious delta variant continues to spread across Will County and the nation, Silver Cross has seen a large increase in COVID-positive patients, the most since April 2021, according to the release. That surge has required the hospital to reopen a special negative-pressure unit.

Since last December, Silver Cross has administered nearly 33,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine during dozens of vaccine clinics at its New Lenox campus, according to the release.

“Universal vaccination at Silver Cross will protect our patients and staff and is 100 percent in alignment with our focus on safety,” Udovich added.

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