Grady becomes latest Atlanta hospital to require vaccinations for employees

ATLANTA — Staff at Grady Memorial Hospital will soon be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine if they want to come to work.

“Trauma cases are at an all-time high. Inpatient medical care needs are up. And hospitalizations due to COVID increase daily. Of those three, COVID-19 is the one we have a proven way to control, and that’s through vaccinations,” Grady president and CEO John Haupin said in a statement.

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The vaccination requirement will reach employees in different stages. The first of those to be required to get the vaccine are physicians, management-level staff and vendors. They will be required to be vaccinated by October.

All new employees will also be required to have been fully vaccinated prior to their start date.

The remainder of the timeline for all other employees has not been released.

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In July, representatives with Grady reported 57% of their staff had been vaccinated.

Piedmont Hospital has also announced similar measures. All of their doctors, executives and new employees must have a COVID-19 vaccine by September 1. Other employees will follow at a later date.

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