Health Care and Rehabilitation Services (HCRS), southeastern Vermont's nonprofit community mental-health agency, has announced that its 472 employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
A vaccine requirement was implemented at the agency as of Dec. 1, and all of the agency's current staff have complied.
“Many of the people the agency supports are at much greater risk for severe illness,” the agency said in a news release, noting that its clientele is considered a vulnerable population.
Staffing was another consideration. According to Anne Bilodeau, HCRS's interim co-executive officer and chief human resources officer, “Vermont's staffing crisis has put a serious strain on our ability to appropriately staff our programs.”
“As required by the Vermont Department of Health and encompassed within our COVID-19 protocols, staff are unable to come into their worksite if they have any symptoms of a contagious illness,” she added. “Our vaccine requirement, along with staff incentives for the flu vaccine, are helping us ensure that we can continue to provide services every day.”
HCRS hosted three free COVID-19 vaccine clinics for the community last fall in Brattleboro, Springfield, and Hartford in partnership with Rescue Inc. Raffle prizes were provided at each location as an incentive.
Bilodeau said that HCRS is “very pleased” that all 472 of their professional staff are fully vaccinated.
“Anyone seeking mental health, substance use, or developmental disability services can reach out to us for support without fear of meeting with a provider who is not vaccinated. We are here for our communities and will continue to do all we can to support them.”
According to HCRS, less than 0.5 percent of the agency's workforce opted to leave at the end of November, rather than be vaccinated.
For more information about HCRS and its services, visit hcrs.org.