January 20, 2022

The health system’s existing COVID-19 vaccination requirement is expanding to include boosters for all employees, students and providers who work, learn or practice medicine at MU Health Care or MU School of Medicine facilities, or they may receive a medical or religious exemption.

Those currently eligible to receive boosters will be required to meet the requirement by April 5, 2022. The initial COVID-19 vaccination requirement went into effect Oct. 1, 2021.

The expansion of the existing requirement to include COVID-19 boosters is consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations regarding boosters. Data from clinical trials showed COVID-19 boosters prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death due to COVID-19.

“We are pleased that, across our organization, we achieved a high compliance rate with our initial vaccination requirement,” said Richard J. Barohn, MD, executive vice chancellor for health affairs for the University of Missouri.  “As the Omicron variant continues to spread and prevalence rates in Boone County and in our 25-county service area continue to climb, we are updating our policy to ensure we’re doing all we can to prevent disease and keep our workforce healthy and able to care for our community.”