Avera Health announces employee vaccine mandate

Sioux Falls-based Avera Health announced Tuesday that it will require full vaccination for its physicians, employees and volunteers by Dec. 1.

The policy also includes students with rotations at Avera, contracted workers and vendors.

Exemptions will be considered for those with medical or religious reasons. According to Avera, those receiving an exemption will be required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment and to comply with regular COVID-19 testing and other preventative measures.

The mandate will affect Avera’s approximately 16,000 employees. Adding in staff from Avera’s managed sites, the number reaches around 19,000 people.

Sanford Health, South Dakota’s other major health care system, announced an employee vaccine mandate in July with a deadline for vaccination of November 1.

September 8, 2021