Biden Praises Rush Success With Employee Vaccinations

President cited Medical Center’s high vaccination rate in Chicago-area speech

In his visit to the Chicago area Thursday, President Joe Biden lauded Rush University Medical Center’s success in having its staff vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Rush University Medical Center here in Chicago has gone from 72 percent to more than 95 percent of its employees fully vaccinated under its requirements,” Biden said. Ninety-seven percent of Medical Center employees have received the vaccine, and 99 percent are compliant with the Medical Center’s vaccine requirement, which also allows for exemptions for religious or medical reasons.

“These requirements work,” Biden added in his speech at Clayco Construction in Elk Grove Village.

The Medical Center has been able to achieve this level because the Rush community recognizes and appreciates that a fully vaccinated staff is essential to our ability to keep patients and each other safe, said Courtney Kammer, senior vice president and chief human resources officer.

There has been a groundswell of support for the vaccine on the Medical Center campus since well before it was available.

"And 99 percent compliance illustrates perfectly the importance we all place on the health and well-being of our community,” Kammer added.

Read more about Rush's high vaccination rate.

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