RWJ Barnabas Anticipates Requiring COVID Vaccine For All Staff

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — On Thursday, RWJBarnabas Health announced it will be requiring all employees who work in a supervisory capacity receive the coronavirus vaccine, and said it will eventually likely require all employees be vaccinated.

RWJBarnabas Health appears to be the first health system in the state to require its employees receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Their main rival in the New Jersey healthcare sphere, Hackensack Meridian Health, has not yet made such a requirement of its employees.

The mandate goes into effect immediately, and employees must show proof they have completed their vaccinations no later than June 30.

"This is for all team members at the supervisory level and above effective immediately, with the anticipation that it will eventually be required for all staff," said RWJBarnabas in a statement Thursday.

"Supervisory" level means any nurse or doctor, or any staff member, who has a supervisory title.

"In addition, it is anticipated that ALL STAFF will eventually be required to be vaccinated as well," said RWJ.

“As healthcare workers and as team members committed to providing a culture of safety, we have an obligation to do all we can to protect our patients and the communities we serve,” said RWJBarnabas CEO Barry Ostrowsky. “As a healthcare leader in the state, we must set the precedent to always provide the safest environment and protect the residents of New Jersey.”

He also pointed to a steep and continued decline in COVID cases as millions of Americans, and people worldwide, get vaccinated.

RWJ said "a majority" of their staff have already received the full course of the COVID-19 vaccine, and will continue to offer vaccination for the foreseeable future for all team members as well as the community.

RWJ Barnbas started as the health system that owned Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, one of the state's top trauma units, in New Brunswick, and its satellite branches in Rahway, Somerset and Hamilton.

Then it expanded beyond Central Jersey, taking over ownership of the Jersey City Medical Center, Monmouth Medical in Long Branch and Community Hospital in Toms River.

RWJ Barnabas currently owns and manages the following hospitals in New Jersey:

• Jersey City Medical Center
• Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
• Children's Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel
• Clara Maas Medical Center in Belleville
• Saint Barnabas Medical Center and Burn Unit, Livingston
• Robert Wood Johnson University Medical Center, main campus in New Brunswick
• RWJ Rahway
• RWJ Somerset
• RWJ Hamilton
• Children's Specialized Hospital, New Brunswick
• Bristol Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at RWJUH New Brunswick
• Monmouth Medical Center (all campuses) and its children's hospital
• Community Medical Center in Toms River

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