Mandatory Vaccines for Cedars-Sinai Employees
A Statement from Cedars-Sinai
This statement has been updated as of Aug. 25 at 9:00 a.m.
As one of southern California's most trusted healthcare institutions and one of the largest employers in Los Angeles County, Cedars-Sinai is committed to the safety of our staff and to protecting those we serve. That is why we are requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for those who work and volunteer at Cedars-Sinai. In doing so, we are complying with recent public health orders from the California Department of Public Health.
All employees, physicians, volunteers, contractors, students, researchers and other healthcare providers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital and outpatient facilities must receive their final COVID-19 vaccine dose (initial dose of a one-dose series, or second dose of a two-dose series) no later than Sept. 30. Some exemptions will be granted for religious or medical reasons. Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
To date, 86% of Cedars-Sinai staff are fully vaccinated. We are implementing this policy to ensure that the remaining members of our team get vaccinations as soon as possible. Doing so will help keep our patients, employees and the community safe.
Our decisions continue to be guided by the latest science, and our vaccine requirement is consistent with similar policies at other major healthcare organizations. The arrival of the highly transmissible delta variant has once again shown how quickly the virus can spread in the absence of widespread vaccination. Additionally, there is now abundant data about the safety of the vaccines, which have been given to more than 200 million people in the U.S alone and have proven to be safe across age groups, nationalities and ethnicities. The vaccines have undergone rigorous clinical trials and reviews before receiving emergency use authorization or approval from the Food and Drug Administration.
Getting vaccinated dramatically reduces our employees' chances of being hospitalized or dying from COVID-19 and safeguards our capacity to care for our patients and our community. Vaccination remains the most effective way to stop the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, especially as highly contagious variants circulate within our communities.
We thank our staff for following this policy and for the life-changing difference they continue to make every day.
We continue to strongly encourage members of the community to get vaccinated. If you have not gotten vaccinated, please do so as soon as possible at the most convenient location for you.
Current Cedars-Sinai patients can make COVID-19 vaccination appointments by opening their My CS-Link™ app or calling 1-855-427-5465. All Californians also can visit the California Department of Public Health's My Turn website to find a nearby clinic.