Alabama hospitals in the Ascension health care system, St.

Vincent's and Providence, will require COVID-19 vaccines for staff and volunteers (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com).

Vincent’s hospitals in the Birmingham area and Providence Hospital in Mobile, will require staff to get both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine by Nov.

“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,” the announcement said.

Children’s Hospital, which is treating 12 children with COVID-19, issued a statement promoting vaccinations last week.

“Tens of thousands of Ascension associates have already been vaccinated with the available vaccines, as have millions of people across the country and the world,” the Ascension statement said.