Bladen County Hospital, all Cape Fear Valley facilities to require employee vaccination

ELIZABETHTOWN — Employees of Bladen County Hospital will have to be vaccinated for coronavirus by Oct. 1, the parent company said Thursday.

Cape Fear Valley Health, headquartered in Fayetteville, said the rule is mandatory for employees, physicians, students, vendors and volunteers.

In a release, the health system’s CEO cited a rise in COVID-19 cases as the reason for the requirement.

“Vaccinations remain our best defense against the pandemic,” Michael Nagowski said. “The vaccine has proven to be safe and effective, and the data shows it reduces the severity of the virus and significantly lessens the risk of COVID-related hospitalizations for those who are exposed to the virus. The overwhelming body of scientific evidence supports our decision that mandatory vaccination is the right choice at this time.”

The release said the leadership team held conversations with employees before reaching the decision. There is an application process for exemptions based on medical or faith reasons.