Sinai Chicago has announced that it will require all of its caregivers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 15, 2021. This includes all staff members including doctors, nurses, technicians and support staff across the organization, as well as all new employees, contractors, students, and vendors across the system.  This initiative is in keeping with the mission of Sinai Chicago, and our desire to improve the health of our community. Sinai Chicago joins numerous other hospitals across Illinois and the country who are making COVID-19 vaccinations a mandatory standard of employment for their employees. More than 164 million people across the United States have safely received COVID-19 vaccines, joining over 1 billion vaccinated worldwide. The COVID-19 vaccines have been developed under intense safety monitoring. Public health experts agree that vaccines are the most effective tool for reducing the frequency and severity of COVID-19 infections.  COVID-19 vaccination requirements by employers are allowed by state and federal law. Sinai Chicago’s requirements will comply with all federal and state laws and regulations by evaluating and granting exemptions for medical and religious reasons and offering alternative working accommodations where appropriate. This is consistent with Sinai Chicago’s existing mandatory vaccine policy for influenza, which requires all staff members to receive a flu shot each year. For more information, visit www.sinachicago.org