Ascension Providence Hospital in Novi, Michigan has denied religious exemptions to approximately 650 employees for the COVID-19 vaccines.
Ascension was founded as a nonprofit Catholic system and is one of the largest private healthcare systems in the country ranking second in the United States by number of hospitals in 2019.
Ascension requires all associates to be vaccinated against COVID-19, whether or not they provide direct patient care, and whether they work at their sites of care or remotely. Ascension says on its website that it will provide its associates a process for requesting an exemption similar to the process they use for the annual influenza vaccine.
Ascension will require that all associates be vaccinated against COVID-19, whether or not they provide direct patient care, and whether they work in our sites of care or remotely. This includes associates employed by subsidiaries and partners; physicians and advanced practice providers, whether employed or independent; and volunteers and vendors entering Ascension facilities.