Vaccines Now Required For Mecklenburg Public Health Workers

CHARLOTTE, NC — When it comes to getting a jab against COVID-19, the clock is now ticking for public healthcare workers in Mecklenburg County. All Mecklenburg County Public Health employees are now required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine starting next week, the county announced Monday.

As part of the new policy, which the agency compares to its existing influenza vaccine policy, employees are required to receive the vaccine beginning Aug. 2, and must show proof of vaccination by Sept. 7, MCPH said.

The announcement comes less than a week after five hospital systems in the state, including two in the Charlotte metro, said they are now requiring all their employees get vaccinated against COVID-19.

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The hospital systems include Atrium Health, Novant Health, Cone Health, Duke Health and Wake Forest Baptist, WFAE reported. Six facilities in the UNC Health hospital system will also require all their workers to get vaccinated. In Charlotte, Novant Health employees have until Sept. 15 to be fully vaccinated, while Atrium Health will require that status by Oct. 31.

"As public health staff, we have led the COVID-19 response efforts for the County and know too well the very high level of sickness, death, and impact the pandemic has had in our community," Mecklenburg County Public Health Director Gibbie Harris said in a statement. "Despite significant prevention efforts, COVID-19 continues to spread in our community, including new highly contagious variants."

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