MercyOne extends COVID-19 vaccine deadline following new Iowa law

MercyOne has extended its COVID-19 vaccination mandate deadline by 12 days in light of a new state law, allowing any employee previously denied an exemption to now seek a waiver from the requirement.

Officials with the Catholic health care system in Iowa told The Gazette on Monday it is reviewing its vaccination policy to ensure it is in compliance with a new state law that requires employers to grant employees’ written request to be exempt from COVID-19 vaccine requirements if it meets specific criteria.

As a result, all staff across MercyOne facilities in the central and northeast regions of the state have until Nov. 12 to submit proof of vaccination or file for an exemption for medical or religious reasons.

Any employee who previously was denied an exemption now has the opportunity to file for a waiver, MercyOne spokesman Adam Amdor said in a statement.

“We are committed to ensuring we comply with all state and federal laws and regulations,” Amdor said.

A new law signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds last week requires businesses to grant employees’ written request for a waiver from the vaccine requirement, making it easier for staff to claim religious or medical exemptions. The law also ensure anyone fired from their job for refusing to comply with an employer’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement still would be able to collect unemployment benefits.

► RELATED: COVID vaccine deadline arrives for UnityPoint workers

MercyOne previously has announced all employees — including health care workers and non-medical staff — at its facilities had until Nov. 1 to be fully vaccinated or have an exemption on hand. In all, the order affects 17,000 employees across 16 MercyOne hospitals as well as associated medical centers and clinics in Iowa.

Employees who are not compliant with the requirement could face termination, officials have said.

The requirement does not apply to MercyOne’s managed affiliates, such as Mercy Iowa City or the Mercy Iowa City Rehabilitation Hospital.

An earlier mandate deadline of Sept. 21 had been issued for certain hospitals and medical clinics within the MercyOne health system under a rule issued by its parent company, Trinity Health, in early July.

The Michigan-based health care system, which operates across 22 states, has hospitals and associated medical clinics at MercyOne Dubuque, MercyOne Dyersville, MercyOne Clinton, MercyOne North Iowa and MercyOne Western.

COVID-19 vaccines have been available to health care staff in Iowa since December.

Comments: (319) 398-8469; michaela.ramm@thegazette.com