Hospitals push forward with vaccine requirements despite Oregon law preventing them from doing so - KGW.com

PORTLAND, Oregon — Kaiser Permanente, PeaceHealth and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) will require employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, despite a 1989 Oregon law that prohibits hospitals from doing so as a condition of employment.

The COVID vaccine requirement will apply to all Oregon employees, although some exemptions will be allowed, both organizations confirmed. .

RELATED: PeaceHealth will require COVID-19 vaccine for health care workers.

RELATED: Kaiser Permanente will require all employees and physicians to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Those associated with OHSU will be required to either get vaccinated against COVID-19 or formally decline.

RELATED: OHSU will require COVID vaccine for students, employees and others this fall.

Other major health systems, including Salem Health, Providence Portland and Legacy Health are encouraging employees to get the COVID vaccine but all three said that Oregon law prevents them from mandating it.

RELATED: At least 300 Portland-area VA health care workers must get COVID vaccine or face consequences