Employees of Lehigh Valley Health Network, St. Luke’s University Health Network and Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network announced Monday they will “shortly introduce policies that will require all employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. These new policies will also apply to everyone who works or conducts business within the healthcare organizations,” a joint statement read.

“Our health care systems continue to combat the ongoing COVID-19 virus and are committed to the safety of every patient in our care and every colleague on our team,” the statement continued.

Brian A. Nester, DO, MBA, president and CEO of LVHN; Rick Anderson, president and CEO of SLUHN, and Michael Spigel, PT, MHA, president and CEO of Good Shepherd Rehabilitation said “being vaccinated is essential to save lives and finally end this pandemic. Vaccines are a modern miracle and a triumph of modern medicine and unquestionably have proven to be extremely effective,” they said.

Information about the vaccine

According to the joint statement, more than 349 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in the U.S.

The vaccines have undergone and continue to undergo the most intensive safety monitoring of any vaccine in history. Serious side effects that could cause long term health problems are extremely unlikely following any vaccination, including COVID-19. Current data does not identify any safety concerns for pregnant women who were vaccinated against COVID-19 or for their unborn child.