Museum Achieves 99 Percent Vaccination Status for Employees
CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY EMPLOYEE COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY FULLY IMPLEMENTED
99 percent of Museum staff are vaccinated against COVID-19
Cleveland, OH—December 2, 2021—The Cleveland Museum of Natural History has finalized the implementation of its employment policy that all staff be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and has achieved 99 percent vaccination status for Museum employees.
“We are proud to be an institution that leads with science,” said Sonia Winner, the Museum’s President & CEO. “Our staff have taken an important step to keep our community safe. As the Museum serves a variety of audiences, including many children who are not yet eligible for the vaccine, we have a responsibility to protect our guests and ensure that their visit is not only fun and educational, but safe.”
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History has remained committed to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all visitors and staff. The Museum’s leadership stands behind the science that propelled the development of effective COVID-19 vaccines. It made the decision to require employee vaccinations following the FDA’s full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine.
A critical component of the Museum’s new strategic plan is scientific leadership, including the interpretation of scientific discoveries to address pressing issues of our time. Championing the importance of vaccination aligns with current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) recommendations for the single best step individuals can take to protect against contracting and spreading COVID-19.
According to a public opinion poll the Museum sponsored this year, the vast majority of Americans trust science and think public understanding of science is necessary. They also cite scientists as the most trusted source of accurate scientific information.
“As representatives of a scientific institution, Museum scientists, researchers, educators, and all our other staff lead by example,” said Winner. “The success of our employee vaccination efforts shows that together, we can achieve the high community vaccination rates that are required to help stem the spread of COVID-19.”
In addition to mandating vaccination for employees, the Museum requires that all volunteers show proof of vaccination before registering for shifts. All newly hired employees will also need to show proof of vaccination before their employment begins. In addition, the Museum requires that all guests, employees, and volunteers ages 2 and older wear masks throughout the Museum’s galleries and public spaces.
The Museum’s employee vaccination policy is based on guidance from the CDC, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and state and local health agencies, and is designed to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.
About the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History illuminates the world around us and inspires visitors to engage with the natural forces that shape their lives. Since its founding in 1920, the Museum has pioneered scientific research to advance knowledge across diverse fields of study and used its outstanding collections, which encompass more than 5 million artifacts and specimens, to deepen the public’s understanding of the dynamic connections between humans and nature.
Through its Natural Areas Program, the Museum stewards more than 11,000 acres of protected ecosystems across northern Ohio. A community gathering place, educational center, and research institution, the Museum is a vital resource that serves Cleveland and the nation. For more information, visit CMNH.org.
Media Contacts
Samantha Guenther
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
216.403.4557
sguenther@cmnh.org
Sandra Stafford
SPQR
216.509.3973
sandra@spqrpublicrelations.com