University Hospital In Newark Rolls Out J&J ‘Booster Mandate’

NEWARK, NJ — A hospital in Newark is requiring a booster shot for any employee who received the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine.

University Hospital announced its new policy on Wednesday, fresh on the heels of approval by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for COVID-19 booster shots for targeted American populations.

Now, any worker who got the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine will have to return for a second shot by Friday, Dec. 24. Employees will have the option to receive one of the other approved COVID-19 vaccines, as federal guidance allows for the “mix and match” of primary vaccination injections and the booster.

Hospital administrators said they will continue to monitor data to determine if any additional mandates will be required for employees who received the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines.

According to a statement from University Hospital:

“There is strong evidence from leading health care researchers that ‘breakthrough infections’ in health care workers are up across the nation due both to the Delta variant and waning immunity from initial vaccination. With the majority of the University Hospital’s employee population having received the vaccination in December and January, these employees are eligible for booster shots immediately, regardless of their original vaccination type.”

The hospital will make vaccine injections available to employees through its on-site vaccination clinic, administrators said.

Shereef Elnahal, President and CEO of University Hospital, elaborated on the reason for the policy change:

“Data and analysis indicate that a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may no longer confer a level of effectiveness that prevents COVID-19 infection in enough of our employees if they are exposed, which has implications on our ability to keep vulnerable patients and families safe. Our rationale for mandating primary vaccinations was to keep all of our employees, vulnerable patients, families, and communities safe by limiting the spread of COVID-19. In light of the CDC and FDA decision-making on Johnson & Johnson vaccine boosters last week, we believe boosters are necessary to achieve this goal for those who received this single-dose vaccine.”

The hospital’s decision saw support from New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli.

“The CDC’s recommendations for booster doses will provide additional protections for all those who have finished their primary series and also offer vaccine choice for boosters,” Persichilli said.

“Health care workers have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 virus, and with the Delta variant remaining active, booster doses will help increase immunity not only for recipients but will further protect the health care community,” Persichilli said.

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