IU Health Suspends Unvaccinated Employees

Inside INdiana Business is reporting that Indiana University Health says fewer than 300 employees have been suspended after not meeting a deadline to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The health system initially told our partners at the Indianapolis Business Journal today the number was more than 1,000, but a spokesperson confirmed the updated number in an email early this afternoon.

The health system says the employees will be allowed to return to work if they attest to partial or full vaccination. IU Health employs 36,000 people and the system says 97% have complied with the vaccination mandate the health system announced in June.

IU Health also announced it is temporarily suspending 100% of inpatient elective surgeries and procedures beginning Monday. The health system the decision will free up space for critically ill patients.

IBJ reports three other hospital systems have set deadlines for employees to receive the vaccine: Community Health Network by Sept. 15, Eskenazi Health by Sept. 20 and Ascension St. Vincent by Nov. 12.