Nearly 90 percent of McGaw YMCA’s employees are already fully vaccinated against COVID-19, thanks in part to the YMCA’s partnership with the City of Evanston to provide free vaccines earlier this year.

EVANSTON, IL — As an organization committed to the health and well-being of the Evanston community, the McGaw YMCA has announced it will require employees who are medically able and not exempt due to sincerely held religious beliefs to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by November 1, 2021.

Monique Parsons, McGaw YMCA’s President/CEO, said she is committed to taking an active role to protect staff, members, program participants, and the men who live at McGaw from the highly contagious Delta variant through ongoing preventative measures, including vaccinations.

“As a community-based organization that provides housing, childcare, school-age programming, and fitness opportunities to people at all stages of life, the McGaw YMCA has been leading the way in maintaining a healthy, safe, and clean environment throughout this pandemic,” Parsons said.

“Every day we strive to make the best decisions for our staff, our residents, our members and program participants, and everyone who walks through our doors. We will continue to do what we can to help protect the health and safety of our community,” added Parsons.

McGaw’s Chief Operating Officer, Nicole Woodard, said that keeping COVID-19 safety protocols in place throughout the pandemic has helped the Y stay open without any spread of the virus. “Since the start of this pandemic, McGaw YMCA has followed COVID-19 mitigation guidelines from the CDC, the Illinois Department of Public Health and our local health department, and at times, we’ve gone beyond the mandated requirements to keep our Y a safe place for all,” Woodard explained.

Earlier this year, McGaw YMCA partnered with the City of Evanston’s Health & Human Services Department to provide two free vaccine events for Y employees and the resident men who live at the YMCA. As a result, nearly 90 percent of McGaw YMCA’s eligible employees are already fully vaccinated.

The McGaw YMCA’s new vaccine requirement applies to current employees and will be a condition of employment for new hires. The decision follows the FDA approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and Governor Pritzker’s recent mandate that requires all school employees to get the vaccine. McGaw YMCA will consider requests for exemptions to the vaccine requirement on a case-by-case basis for individuals with disabilities that prevent them from safely being vaccinated and for individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs that conflict with being vaccinated, consistent with federal and Illinois law.

“Our YMCA serves children who are not yet eligible for the vaccine, we provide housing for 156 men in a congregate setting, and we have fitness facilities for families who may have blended vaccine eligibility in their households. Requiring our employees to be fully vaccinated adds an additional layer of safety and protection for our community,” added Woodard.