Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover, NH Will Require Employee Vaccination

Employees at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover will be required to get vaccinated.

Adam Bagni, director of communications and community relations at the hospital, confirmed on Thursday afternoon that all employees in Dover will need to be vaccinated as a condition of employment.

"There is an opportunity for medical and religious exemption," Bagni said via email.

The New Hampshire Hospital Association is supporting hospitals and other healthcare facilities that mandate COVID-19 vaccination for their employees.

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital is part of Massachusetts General Hospital and last month Mass General Brigham announced that it is requiring its 80,000 employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Jeffrey Hughes, president and CEO of Wentworth-Douglass Hospital is on vacation this week but did offer the following statement.

“Leadership here at Wentworth-Douglass fully supports this position. Our culture is that of putting our patients first, and many of them are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. When we protect ourselves, we protect those we care for, which is our core responsibility.”

Portsmouth Regional Hospital and Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester will not be requiring employees to get vaccinated for COVID-19 as a condition of employment.

Lynn Robbins is the director of marketing and communications at Portsmouth Regional Hospital. She said on Thursday afternoon that employees at HCA Healthcare in New Hampshire are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated.

"While colleagues at Frisbie Memorial Hospital, Parkland Medical Center and Portsmouth Regional Hospital are not required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 at this time, our infectious disease experts as well as those at the CDC are strongly encouraging vaccination as a critical step to protect individuals from the virus. Our hospitals follow guidance outlined by the CDC regarding protocols for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals in our facilities, including universal masking for all colleagues, patients and visitors," Robbins said.

What's happening in other parts of the state?

Parkland Medical Center in Derry is also a part of HCA Healthcare and employees there will not be required to get vaccinated as a condition of employment.

Effective Sept. 30, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health will require COVID-19 vaccination of employees as a condition of employment.

During his COVID-19 press briefing on Thursday afternoon, Gov. Chris Sununu encouraged employers to speak with employees before mandating vaccination.

"The most important thing is to talk to the employees. Don't just make a decision in a vacuum," Sununu said when asked.

Sununu acknowledged that the decision to get vaccinated is a personal one.

Contact Managing News Editor Kimberley Haas at Kimberley.Haas@townsquaremedia.com.