NJBIZ

The Propelify Innovation Festival scheduled for October in Hudson County is requiring all its patrons to get the COVID-19 vaccine in order to gain admission.

“It’s our mission to create an event that is safe for all – not just for our attendees, but also for all sponsors, exhibitors, speakers, and staff,” reads an Aug. 3 statement from Aaron Price, chief executive officer of TechUnited, one of the lead organizers and founders of the event.

The festival came together for the first time in Hoboken in 2019, albeit with a smaller crowd, and in October 2020 was conducted in the virtual space.

This year, the event is scheduled to run on Oct. 6 and 7 at the Harborside Atrium in Jersey City with an expected crowd turn-out of more than 5,000 attendees.

“In case you weren’t aware, the policy created for Propelify 2021 welcomes all those who are vaccinated,” Price continued. “In fact, we are offering complimentary tickets for a bit longer, as long as you are vaccinated.”

The morning announcement comes as the private sector across the board mandates staff to get the vaccine or submit to regular testing, and as the Murphy administration requires the same in response to widespread vaccine hesitancy.

That hesitancy, public health officials warn, has provided ample spread for the highly contagious delta variant to surge across New Jersey and the nation, in what public figures like Gov. Phil Murphy have called a “pandemic among the unvaccinated.”

Cases and total hospitalizations have risen to their highest levels in months – spreading almost exclusively among those who have not gotten the shot.

Under state requirements, health care and frontline employees have until Sept. 7 to get vaccinated, otherwise, they must submit to weekly COVID-19 testing.

RWJBarnabas Health said July 26 that all its staff – including all employees, new employees and medical staff – must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 15, 2021.

RWJBarnabas Health recently mandated vaccination for staff at the supervisor level and above with great success, the health system said. As of July 14, 2,979 staff members, or 99.7%, at the supervisor level and above have been fully vaccinated or received medical and religious exemptions or a deferral.

“It is critically important for our entire RWJBarnabas Health family to be vaccinated,” said Dr. John Bonamo, executive vice president and chief medical and quality officer for RWJBarnabas Health. “As health care workers and team members, we are obligated ethically and professionally to do everything we can to keep our patients and colleagues safe. This obligation is not met if unvaccinated staff are treating and interacting with our patients, or are at risk of spreading COVID-19 to each other.”

The largest academic health care system in New Jersey, RWJBarnabas said that as with the mandatory management vaccine program, non-compliance with this mandate will result in separation from the organization. In addition, all vendors and volunteers will need to show proof of vaccination.

The American Medical Association now says anyone who works in health care should be vaccinated against COVID-19.

RWJBarnabas Health will continue to offer vaccination for the foreseeable future for all team members as well as the community. To schedule a COVID-19 vaccination, you can register here.

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