August 4, 2021 – Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, the parent organization of Our Lady of the Lake (Baton Rouge, LA) hospitals, announced yesterday that it will require all staff, contract employees and volunteers to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
“Our health system is not alone in its decision to require a vaccine and joins many other healthcare organizations and expect others to follow,” said Richard Vath, president of the Franciscan Missionaries system. “As a healthcare leader we believe we must take this step now for everyone’s safety and long-term community well-being.”
The mandate will affect Our Lady of the Lake, Louisiana’s largest private hospital, as well as St. Francis Medical Center (Monroe, LA), Our Lady of Lourdes (Acadiana, LA), Our Lady of the Angels (Bogalusa, LA), and St. Dominic Hospital (Jackson, MS).
Implementation of The Lake’s blanket mandate will occur over several months, concluding in December, Vath said.
Baton Rouge General also issued a vaccine mandate, but gave those who don’t want to receive it an option to instead attend mandatory training aimed at dispelling misinformation about the vaccine, according to The Advocate.
BRG’s mandate will take effect in September. All employees will have until the end of that month to submit documentation of their vaccination or complete the first module of a mandatory online training.