Richard A. Henson Wellness Center

New COVID-19 Vaccine and Mitigation Policy

We firmly believe in promoting the public good, which at a minimum includes doing what we can as an organization to provide a safe environment for our employees, volunteers, and visitors to reduce the risk of catching or spreading COVID-19.

We firmly believe that everyone has an obligation to help take care of society’s most vulnerable, which includes those who may be at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 or developing severe complications, as well as those with life-threatening conditions unrelated to the virus who cannot receive proper medical care if hospitals are overcrowded with COVID-19 patients.

We firmly believe in science, which has found, after rigorous study, that vaccines are safe and effective ways to prevent serious illness and to save lives, as has been proven with chicken pox, influenza, measles, polio, smallpox, tetanus, and now COVID-19.

We firmly believe that every person possible should receive all recommended doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the schedules published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), because that may be the single most important health-promoting intervention that can be performed.

Requirement

Any employee, volunteer, program participant or visitor who is not fully vaccinated for COVID-19, as defined by the CDC, will be restricted from participating in the following programs offered at MAC, Incorporated effective February 14, 2022:

• Connection Sites – (Salisbury, Westside & Willards)
• Life Bridges Adult Day Program,
• Richard A. Henson Fitness Center.

For the purposes of this policy, “fully vaccinated” means that a person has received all the required doses of an FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine (and booster if at least 6 months have passed since the individual was fully vaccinated).

Proof of vaccination must be provided prior to entry or program participation.  For employees working in direct contact with participants of these three programs and for the safety of fellow workers no exemptions from this policy will be granted.

Vaccine Administration

Employees are responsible for scheduling and obtaining all recommended doses of an FDA approved COVID-19 vaccine or a COVID-19 vaccine granted Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA. Reasonable leave will be provided so employees may get the vaccine during regularly scheduled work hours, contingent on supervisor approval.

Policy Modification

Government and public health guidelines and restrictions and business and industry best practices regarding COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines are changing rapidly as new information becomes available, further research is conducted, and additional vaccines are approved and distributed. MAC reserves the right to modify this policy at any time at its sole discretion to adapt to changing circumstances and business needs, consistent with its commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace.