Jamaica Plain Nursing Home To Require Vaccinations For All Staff

JAMAICA PLAIN, MA — In an effort to ensure the health and safety of all residents, Sherrill House, a non-profit skilled nursing and rehabilitation center in Jamaica Plain is requiring that all staff members get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Once the U.S. Food and Drug Administration fully approves of at least one of the available vaccines, which is expected to happen later this year, the vaccine requirement will go into full effect.

Sherrill House says employees will be able to request an exemption for religious and medical reasons.

“Sherrill House has a history of proactivity on public health initiatives,” said Patrick J. Stapleton, CEO of Sherrill House. “Three years ago, our staff was required to get the flu vaccine – a full year prior to the vaccine being mandated by public health officials – and we are charting a similar path with the COVID-19 vaccine.”

The majority of Sherril House employees are already vaccinated, as 85% of the staff has already received COVID-19 vaccine shots through on-site clinics or through their own health care providers. Sherril House has a higher vaccine percentage rate than the rest of Massachusetts' long-term care industry that currently averages at about 69%.