Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast Board of Directors| Guest Columnists

We are the Board of Directors of Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast, which includes Ascension St. Vincents in Jacksonville, Ascension Sacred Heart in Pensacola, Destin, Panama City and Port St. Joe, and Ascension Providence in Mobile, Ala.

We truly value and appreciate our associates and medical staff and we care about their safety, therefore, we wholeheartedly support Ascensions decision that all associates and medical staff members must be vaccinated against COVID-19. This decision is consistent with our Mission and with the actions of an ever-increasing number of major healthcare systems nationwide, which are also requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for all their employees.

The Mission of Ascension is to serve all persons, especially those who are poor and vulnerable. This Mission also compels us to deliver responsible, safe, high-quality and compassionate healthcare. Our associates share in this commitment to improving the health of those we serve.

In addition to all of the other safety and infection prevention practices weve deployed consistent with CDC and OSHA guidelines, Ascensions COVID-19 vaccine requirement helps us to protect our associates and patients, and to prevent the spread of the virus to others. In this way, we honor the imperative to love our neighbor. As the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops reminds us,Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine ought to be understood as an act of charity toward the other members of our community.... In this way, being vaccinated safely against COVID-19 should be considered an act of love of our neighbor and part of our moral responsibility for the common good.

We strongly encourage all members of our community to get vaccinated, in order to protectthemselves, their families, their friends, and their neighbors. COVID-19 continues to spreadrapidly in our communities. Over 96% of patients being treated in our hospitals for COVID-19are not vaccinated. Individuals who are vaccinated are much less likely to become seriously illwith COVID-19 and require hospitalization.

This has largely become a pandemic of the unvaccinated. By getting vaccinated, Ascension associates and all of our community members demonstrate solidarity with many businesses, governmental agencies, and institutions that have recognized that getting a vaccine is an important step towards ending this pandemic.

Protecting our associates and those we serve is a responsibility we do not take lightly. To demonstrate our commitment to this responsibility, all of our Board members have been fully vaccinated. With reverence, our Ascension St.Vincents, Ascension Sacred Heart and Ascension Providence leaders, associates, and medical staff members have our collective support.

We are the Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast Board of Directors:Holly Benson,Rob Bradley,Robert Emmanuel,John Falconetti,Tyrone Fenderson,Kevin Joseph, M.D., Sister Mary Ellen Lacy, DC,J. Collier Merrill,J. Mort OSullivan, III,John Roche,Beth Rouse,Sidney Simmons II, and Thomas VanOsdol

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Guest column: Ascension Florida is requiring staff members to get the COVID vaccine - The Florida Times-Union