Houston Hospital Offers Workers $500 to Get COVID-19 Vaccine

By Kate Gibson
CBS News

Houston Methodist’s 26,000 workers can look forward to some extra cash in March — as long as they get a COVID-19 vaccine.

The eight-hospital system’s president and CEO, Dr. Marc Boom, told employees in an emailed letter last week that they can look forward to a $500 bonus as a “thank you for your perseverance throughout a difficult 2020.” Eligibility criteria to receive the award include getting a COVID-19 vaccination, “fulfilling our obligation as health care workers to lead the community,” he stated.

Houston Methodist also gave employees $500 bonuses about six weeks ago for their work during the pandemic, which has killed nearly 35,000 Americans. Houston has been hit particularly hard, with nearly 2,700 deaths and more than 247,000 confirmed cases in surrounding Harris County.

Employers, including health care providers, face a balancing act in getting their workforces vaccinated. For now, vaccination isn’t required for Houston Methodist employees, but “will be eventually” for most workers, Boom wrote. Although many companies are stopping short of making the shots mandatory, they have the right to require immunization for most workers under recently passed federal employment guidelines.

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