Vaccine Administration – Archive

Information about the effort to vaccinate the health workforce and best practices for health care providers to improve vaccination rates.

(11/29/21) Judge Blocks US COVID-19 Vaccine Rule for Health Workers in 10 States
A district judge in St. Louis has prevented a health care worker vaccine mandate from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to go into effect, following a legal challenge from 10 states. The states impacted by the ruling are Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

(11/18/21) A Look at the Health industry’s Unvaccinated Worker Problem
This article examines the political vax divide debate from all sides. As of this article, 30 percent of health care workers are still unvaccinated despite imposed mandates by providers. Political affiliation plays a major role in who is getting vaccinated. Republicans are 26 percent less likely to be vaccinated than Democrats. The article also looks at the legal battle over Joe Biden’s vaccine requirement.

(11/18/21) Nearly One Third of Healthcare Workers in US Hospitals Are Still Not Vaccinated Against COVID-19, CDC Study Finds, As Vaccine Mandate Looms
New research from the CDC indicates nearly one-in-three workers in hospitals in the US are not vaccinated for COVID-19. This research found that workers at children’s hospitals have the highest rates of vaccination, whereas workers at critical access hospitals have the lowest rates of vaccination.

(11/17/21) Washington Loses 2% of Healthcare Workforce to Vaccine Mandate
Washington has lost 2% of its healthcare workforce due to vaccine mandates for hospitals and nursing home staff, according to the Washington State Hospital Association. Though the percentage of those who quit their jobs is lower than expected, the numbers are higher in rural areas.

(11/11/21) 10 States Sue Biden Administration Over COVID Vaccine Mandate for Health Care Workers
A group of ten states in the US has sued the Biden administration. According to the lawsuit, the vaccine mandate is “unconstitutional and unlawful.” Attorneys general from the states of Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas, Kansas, Iowa, Wyoming, Alaska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and New Hampshire filed the lawsuit.

(11/10/21) How One Health Center is Leading Chicago on Kid COVID Shots
This article from Kaiser Health News covers how Esperanza Health Centers in Chicago has become the top pediatric COVID-19 vaccination provider in the city, immunizing approximately 10,000 children. Building trust in the local community is the key for their success, according to their COVID response manager.

(11/04/21) 17 Million Health Care Workers Must Be Vaccinated by Jan 4 Under Biden’s COVID-19 Mandate
A new vaccination rule from the Biden administration will require 17 million health care workers in hospitals and health care facilities across the United States to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by January 4, 2022.

(10/29/21) New York State Health Care Workers Will No Longer Have Religious Exemption to COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate, Court Rules
A federal appeals court vacated a temporary injunction allowing religious exemptions to New York’s vaccination mandate. Nearly 16,000 health care workers had been granted religious exemption from the vaccination requirement.

(10/27/21) First Circuit Upholds Maine Vaccine Mandate for Health Care Workers
This article from The National Law Review reports that a unanimous panel of the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed the Maine District Court’s dismissal of a preliminary injunction challenging Maine’s COVID-19 immunization requirement for health care employees. The plaintiffs that consist of unvaccinated health care professionals, sought a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction. The First Circuit underscored the legitimacy of Maine’s intent in imposing the mandate. It also said that a religious exemption would contradict Maine’s interest in preserving the health of its most vulnerable communities. According to the court, “few interests are more compelling than preserving public health against a lethal virus.”

(10/25/21) HIPAA Does Not Prohibit Health Care Providers From Requesting COVID-19 Vaccination Status of Patients, Employees
This article from the American Dental Association highlights recent guidance from the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights, outlining that health care providers are not violating HIPAA privacy rules when requesting to know COVID-19 vaccination status of their patients or employees.

(10/21/21) Vaccination Mandates Contributing to Workforce Supply Problems, Federal Report Says
Although there are high demand for workers in the US, labor growth is being disrupted by low supply of workers, according to a report published by the Federal Reserve. The report found that issues that contributed to high turnover in businesses are vaccine mandates, childcare issues, and pandemic-related absences.

(10/21/21) WHO Estimate: 115,000 Health Workers Have Died From COVID-19, as Calls for Vaccine Access Grow
Around 115,000 health care workers have died from COVID-19 from January 2020 to May 2021, according to a new estimate from the World Health Organization. According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, globally, 2 in 5 health care workers are fully vaccinated. Tedros also reported in his briefing that there remains massive disparities in vaccine access globally and he called for countries to prioritize health care workers in vaccination rollouts.

(10/13/2021) Federal Judge Refuses to Block Maine Vaccine Mandate for Health Care Workers
This article reports the first judicial decision in which a federal judge has decided that Maine does not have to allow health-care workers to refuse vaccinations because of religious beliefs. Nine workers sued the state to request a religious exemption of vaccination, which would have temporarily halted the mandate, but the court rejected it. The judge wrote that “Reducing the risk of adverse medical consequences for a high-risk segment of the population is essential to achieving the public health objective of the vaccine mandate.”

(10/13/2021) Many Minnesota Health Care Workers Fighting Vaccine Mandate Have Received Exemptions
In Minnesota, many health care workers who filed a lawsuit to stop the mandate have received a religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement. While Judge Nancy Brasel of the US District Court rejected the health care employees’ request for an injunction to prevent their employers from implementing the vaccination requirement, as one of the attorneys who represent the health care workers said, 70% of the plaintiffs have already obtained a vaccination exemption, mainly for religious reasons.

(10/07/21) Beyond the Byline: COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates Test Hospitals’ Culture
In this Modern Healthcare podcast, Senior Hospital Operations Reporter Alex Kacik, staffing reporter Ginger Chirst, and editor Jeffery Young discuss COVID-19 vaccine mandates and staffing issues.

(10/07/21) Thousands of Home Health Workers May Lose Jobs as NY’s Vaccine Mandate Looms. What to Know
As New York’s vaccine mandate approaches, thousands of New York home health care workers are at risk of losing their jobs. The vaccine mandate is for 270,000 home health care service workers, and according to a survey conducted in September by the Home Care Health Association of New York, nearly 12,000 of those say they would rather quit or be fired than get vaccinated.

(09/30/21) Hundreds of Hospital Staffers Fired or Suspended for Refusing COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate
Following a mandate announced by President Biden early in September, health care facilities that receive Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement are now required to let go of staff who refuse to vaccinate for COVID-19. This, paired with some state mandates for health care workers, is impacting a small number of health care workers in facilities throughout the United States, but with existing staffing shortages, this is a concerning development.

(09/28/21) New York’s COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Health Care Workers Leads to Suspension of Hundreds of Holdouts
Although vaccination rates have increased in the month since the announcement of a vaccination mandate for all health care workers in the state, a requirement by September 27, 2021. Hundreds of employees in hospitals and medical centers in New York have been suspended as a result of the policy, however the vast majority of health care workers have received at least one dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine.

(9/23/21) The COVID-19 Vaccine Health Care Worker Holdouts: for Them, It’s Personal. For Their Hospitals It’s Professional
While the Biden Administration believes that vaccine mandates are needed to stop the COVID-19 pandemic, controversies over whether vaccination against COVID-19 is a personal medical decision. Experts and health care workers say that more efforts to understand concerns over vaccines among health care workers are needed rather than strictly enforcing vaccination.

(09/22/21) Effectiveness of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Among US Health Care Personnel
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine looks at the impact of two mRNA vaccines for COVID-19, the Pfizer–BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, on preventing symptomatic infection among health care workers in their workplaces. This study was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and found the vaccines to be highly effective in a real-world setting, which involved health care workers working at facilities in 25 states.

(09/22/21) FDA Authorizes Booster Dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Certain Populations
The Food and Drug Administration has announced authorization for a booster dose for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, with health care workers being named among qualifying populations.

(09/18/21) In the Fight Against COVID, Health Workers Aren’t Immune to Vaccine Misinformation
In the United States, 27% of health care workers are still unvaccinated, with lower vaccination rates among nurses and nursing home aides than physicians. This article from NPR highlights how misinformation works to create vaccine hesitancy among staff, with vaccine mandates potentially scaring off more, especially among rural hospitals.

(09/14/21) President Biden Enacts Executive Orders Requiring Covid-19 Vaccines Across Federal Government and in Private Sector
A recent executive order signed by President Biden includes multiple new mandates relating to health care workers, especially those who receive Medicare or Medicaid funding. The order mandates that workers will be required to vaccinate for COVID-19 in any facility that receives reimbursement from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

(09/09/21) CMS to Require COVID-19 Vaccinations for Workers in ‘Most Health Care Settings’ – Including Home Health Care
New guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will require COVID-19 vaccination for workers in most settings that receive Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement, including home health care settings.

(08/31/21) UPDATE: Hospitals, Health Systems Mandating Vaccines for Workers
This webpage from Becker’s Healthcare provides the list of healthcare organizations and states that have announced mandates of vaccines against COVID-19.

(08/31/21) Lack of a Vaccine Mandate Becomes Competitive Advantage in Hospital Staffing Wars
This article explains that mandating COVID-19 vaccines has become a serious challenge for small, rural hospitals. As workforce shortage has continued since the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals have oscillated between the risk of COVID-19 and losing their workers due to a vaccine mandate. While urban, bigger hospitals have implemented vaccine mandates and used them as a selling point to recruit staff and patients, this has become a hard choice for other rural, regional hospitals as cases surge again.

(08/31/21) Vaccine Mandate Complicates California’s Nursing Shortage
The COVID-19 pandemic is causing staffing shortages in several California hospitals. The state’s new COVID-19 vaccination requirement for healthcare workers complicates matters. Some visiting nurses refuse to work in California because they fear being vaccinated.

(08/30/21) New York State Issues Emergency Regulation Mandating COVID-19 Vaccination for Health Care Workers
Personnel at hospitals, nursing homes, adult care institutions, and hospices in New York State must be COVID-19 vaccinated by an emergency regulation. The Public Health and Health Planning Council adopted the rule on August 26, 2021. D&TCs, CHHAs, LHCSAs, and other health care providers are covered entities under the emergency rule. General hospitals and nursing homes must vaccinate staff by September 2021; other organizations must vaccinate by October 2021. Health and Human Services (PHHPC) of New York released emergency rules for covered entities. The rule mandates that all health care workers, whether or not vaccinated, wear facial covers.

(08/29/21) About 1 in 8 Nurses Hasn’t Gotten a COVID-19 Vaccine or Doesn’t Plan to Get One, a New Survey Finds, Setting Up the Potential for More Staffing Shortages at Hospitals
According to a survey, one out of every eight nurses has not had or plans to get the COVID-19 vaccination. Nearly 5,000 nurses from throughout the United States were polled by the American Nurses Association. Hospitals are debating whether or not to mandate coronavirus vaccination for its employees. In December, healthcare professionals in the United States were eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination, months before the rest of the country. According to the CDC, 52.3 percent of Americans were completely vaccinated at the time of reporting, while 61.6 percent had gotten at least one dose.

(08/27/21) Initial Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccines to Front-Line Hospital Workers and Community First Responders—A Prospective Descriptive Study
This article published in Journal of Healthcare Risk Management presents the demographic and side-effects of COVID-19 vaccines among front-line healthcare workers. The results suggest that pains and fatigues are the most common types of side effects resulting in missed time from work among front-line healthcare workers.

(08/27/21) It’s Easy to Judge the Unvaccinated. As a Doctor, I See a Better Alternative
Jay Baruch, who is an emergency physician, professor of emergency medicine, director of the medical humanities and bioethics scholarly concentration at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University, explains why we need to communicate with unvaccinated people and non-compliance of public health guidelines while fighting misinformation in the COVID-19 pandemic. He suggests that, to persuade people and get them to think, we must let them know that our purpose is not to convince people with contrary opinions and approach with stories rather than pushing with evidence.

(08/27/21) ‘Tired of Worrying’: As Some Parents Press for Vaccines Off-label, Pediatricians Call for Patience
While the FDA and the CDC announced full approval of the Pfizer.BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines, the American Academy of Pediatrics warned that any children under the age of 12 should wait until additional evidence on the right dosage of the vaccines for children. It is likely that children will need a different dose. Vaccine studies for children under the age of 12 are now underway, and doctors advise parents to wait until they are finished

08/27/21) New York State Removes Religious Exemption From COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate
This article from Becker’s Hospital Review discusses New York state’s newly approved emergency regulations for health care workers which will supersede previous requirements. The previous emergency regulations permitted health care workers to receive medical and religious exemptions from the vaccination requirement. However, religious exemption from the vaccination requirement was removed and additional institutions were included in the mandate. Health care workers at hospitals and nursing homes are still expected to receive their first COVID-19 vaccination dose by September 27, 2021, but workers at newly added institutions have until October 7, 2021.

(08/25/21) COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence in Geographic Areas of Need
This upcoming webinar from the Alliance for Health Policy features four expert speakers on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in specific geographic areas, given recent polling data from the African American Research Collaborative on how African American, Latino, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native American communities view COVID-19 vaccination.

(08/24/21) 11 States Banning COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates & How They Affect Healthcare Workers
This article from Becker’s Hospital Review highlights the eleven states that have signed bills in efforts to restrict COVID-19 vaccine mandates. While some states have prohibited COVID-19 vaccination mandates altogether, most states have only restricted employers from mandating vaccination as a condition of employment.

(08/19/2021) Oregon to Require Health Workers, School Staff Be Vaccinated
Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced Thursday that all Oregon health care workers will be required to get fully vaccinated by October Oct. 18 or six weeks after full Food and Drug Administration approval. The vaccine mandate was met with mixed response across Oregon. According to the state’s largest nursing union, the governor’s order might prompt some health workers to leave the profession because they are “deeply opposed to vaccine mandates.”

(08/19/2021) Latest ANA Survey: Majority of Nurses Back Covid Vaccine Science, Mask Mandates
A new survey by the American Nurses Association (ANA) in conjunc tion with the COVID Vaccine Facts for Nurses Campaign, finds that the majority of nurses agree with the COVID-19 vaccine science and are supportive of mandatory vaccinations for all employees. Of the 4,500 nurses nationwide that were surveyed, 58 percent support mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations. 85 percent agreed to get the vaccine shot if recommended.

(08/18/21) Gov Polis Seeks Vaccine Requirement for Health Care Workers
This article highlights the efforts of Governor Jared Polis of Colorado state to increase the vaccination rates of health care workers at Colorado facilities who serve vulnerable populations and provide essential medical care to patients. Polis has written a formal letter to the state Board of Health asking the state Board of Health to add COVID-19 vaccination requirements for health care workers to their emergency rules.

(08/18/21) Biden: Nursing Home Staff Must Be Vaccinated Against COVID; Booster Shots Avail Starting in Sept.
President Biden announced he plans to make staff vaccinations a condition for nursing homes to receive Medicare and Medicaid funds. The new mandate could take effect as early as next month.

(08/18/21) Healthcare Workers Are Getting Vaccinated. But More Still Need Convincing, US Survey Finds
Although more health care workers are getting vaccinated due to the COVID surges this summer and the Delta Variant, there is still 27 percent that are unvaccinated, according to a new study from the Covid States Project, a collaborative effort by researchers from Northeastern, Harvard, Northwestern, and Rutgers. The study also found that 15 percent of the non vaccinated group are firmly opposed to immunizations.

(08/18/21) US to Require Nursing Home Employees to Get COVID-19 Shots
Biden said that more than 130,000 residents in U.S. nursing homes have died from COVID-19 and that vaccination rates among nursing home employees trail the rest of the country. Biden said studies show that having a highly vaccinated nursing home staff is associated with at least 30 percent fewer COVID-19 cases among residents.

(08/18/21) UPDATE: Hospitals, Health Systems Mandating Vaccines for Workers
This article from Becker’s Hospital Review is a chronological list of healthcare organizations that have announced COVID-19 vaccination mandates. This list will continue to be updated.

(08/16/21) Healthcare Professionals Weigh in After Cuomo Announces Many Will Face Vaccine Mandate
This article looks at health care professionals in New York state reactions to Governor Cuomo’s vaccination requirements for health care workers.

(08/16/21) Cuomo: All New York Hospital, Health Care Workers Must Get COVID-19 Vaccine
A new executive order issued by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo mandates all staff working in hospitals and long-term care facilities in New York State will be required to be vaccinated. This order follows significant increases in COVID-19 cases across the US and in New York, with more than 80 percent of recent COVID-19 cases in New York linked to the Delta variant.

(08/12/21) HHS to Require COVID Vaccine for Agency Health Care Workers
The United States Department of Health and Human Services have recently implemented a COVID-19 vaccination mandate for its clinical and research staff. This requirement applies to all Indian Health Service and National Institutes of Health who interact with patients and serve federally operated health care and clinical research facilities.

(08/10/21) A Quarter of US Hospitals, and Counting, Demand Workers Get Vaccinated. But Not Here.
This article, jointly published by Kaiser Health News and CNN, highlights areas in the United States where vaccine mandates for health care workers are not possible, given state laws prohibiting the action.

(08/07/21) As Trusted Voices, Farmers Could Be Key To Boosting Rural Vaccination Rates
This NPR article attributing low uptake of COVID-19 vaccines to low trust in health authorities explains that local farmers who have long roots in local communities could be a trusted channel for communicating with anti-vaxxers, especially for those who distrust health experts.

(08/04/21) Gov Brown: Oregon Health Care Workers Must Get COVID-19 Vaccination or Weekly Testing
Gov. Kate Brown announced Wednesday that she has directed the Oregon Health Authority to issue a rule outlining new health and safety measures. The policy requires weekly COVID-19 testing for personnel in health care settings or a proof of vaccination. The new rule will be issued this week and applied starting Sept. 30. This will give employers time to prepare for implementation, and will give currently unvaccinated health care workers time to become fully vaccinated. The governor said the new safety measure is necessary to stop delta from causing severe illness.

(08/03/21) CDA Resources Will Help Dentists Comply With State Order Requiring COVID-19 Vaccination or Regular Testing
The California Dental Association is offering tools to help track employee vaccination status following recent mandates for health care workers in California. These tools are aimed to help dental clinics in the state meet compliance requirements.

(08/03/21) UPDATE: Hospitals, Health Systems Mandating Vaccines for Workers
This frequently updated list from Becker’s Hospital Review tracks which major hospitals and health care organizations are mandating vaccination for employees working in their systems.

(08/02/21) Nursing Home Advocates Shift Stance on Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccinations for Staff
The latest COVID-19 pandemic surge caused by the COVID-19 delta variant has resulted in several long-term care providers and advocates to strongly suggest vaccination mandates for staff. Long-term care facilities were initially prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination, but vaccination rates among staff are much lower than vaccination rates among residents.

(08/02/21) NJ Gov. Murphy Mandates Vaccines for State Health-Care and Other Front-Line Workers
New Jersey Governor, Phil Murphy, has released a COVID-19 vaccination mandate for state health care workers and other front-line workers. The deadline for staff in hospitals, corrections facilities, and assisted living facilities to get vaccinated is September 7, 2021. Unvaccinated employees will be required to get tested for COVID-19 twice a week.

(08/02/21) Flattening the Curve: Are Vaccination Mandates a Viable Strategy for Hospitals?
This article from JDSupra considers the potential for vaccine mandates for hospital workers to impact number of infections of COVID-19 within their health care facilities, as well as the legal and ethical implications of vaccination.

(07/30/21) Public Health Recommends Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination for Healthcare Workers
This article from the Public Health Insider highlights Washington state’s Public Health Seattle & King County’s decision to strongly encourage health care facilities and long-term care employers to follow recommendations for mandating COVID-19 vaccinations.

(07/28/21) California Mandates COVID-19 Vaccination for Long-term Care Workers
California Governor, Gavin Newsom, has released a COVID-19 vaccination mandate for long-term care workers and workers in other health care settings. Long-term care workers will be required to get vaccinated or participate in weekly COVID-19 testing. The mandate will take effect on August 9, 2021, and healthcare facilities will have until August 23, 2021 to become fully compliant.

(07/28/21) Governor Cuomo Announces Patient-Facing Healthcare Workers at State-Run Hospitals Will Be Required to Get Vaccinated for COVID-19 by Labor Day
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has recently made an announcement that patient-facing healthcare workers at state-run hospitals will be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccination by Labor Day, September 6, 2021. Patient-facing healthcare workers who do not get vaccinated will not have the option to be tested for COVID-19 on a weekly basis.

(07/28/21) COVID-19 Breakthrough Infections in Vaccinated Health Care Workers
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine examines the occurrence of rare breakthrough infections of COVID-19 disease among health care workers vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine, common in the United States. The study was conducted at the largest medical center in Israel.

(07/26/21) APhA Urges COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates for All Health Workers
The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) announced its statement to urge health care and long-term care providers to require their employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine. As the number of the Delta variant cases has been surging without achieving a sufficient number of vaccinated people, it argues that vaccine mandates for health care workers are the primary way to keep the U.S. society and people safe and healthy.

(07/23/21) 7 Numbers That Show Results of Health System Vaccination Mandates
The number of US hospitals and health systems that have announced COVID-19 vaccination mandates continues to steadily grow. This article from Becker’s Hospital Review highlights the outcomes of vaccination mandates for Houston Methodist, Charleston-based Medical University of South Carolina Health, and RWJ Barnabas Health.

(07/22/21) Proven Ways to Boost COVID-19 Vaccination: Mandates Plus Nudges
This opinion piece from STAT News advocates for COVID-19 vaccination mandates as a way to achieve high vaccination coverage among the workforce and the population. The article also suggests several evidence based methods for boosting COVID-19 vaccination rates in health care and other settings.

(07/21/21) More Medical Provider Groups Push Healthcare Employers to Require COVID-19 Vaccination
This article from Fierce Healthcare highlights the growing number of health care organizations that are endorsing mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for health care workers. The article also discusses the release of a new joint statement from approximately 57 health professional groups which advocates for providers to implement mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies.

(07/21/21) Nation’s Largest Hospital Group Supports Mandatory Coronavirus Vaccines for Health Workers
In an effort to mitigate surging case numbers in the nation, the American Hospital Association (AHA) has called for all health care workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. The AHA has also announced its support for hospitals and health systems to implement mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies for health care workers.

(07/21/21) Get Vaccinated or Take Weekly COVID-19 Test, NYC Public Healthcare Workers Told
Mayor Bill de Blasio has implemented a new policy in New York City which will require workers in hospitals and health clinics to get a COVID-19 vaccination or receive weekly COVD-19 tests. The policy will take effect in early August and will apply to public health workers as well as the entire NYC Health + Hospitals system’s workforce.

(07/15/21) Chiropractors and Nursing Assistants Have Some of the Lowest Vaccination Rates Among Oregon Health Care Workers
The Oregon Health Authority has recently released new data which shows that 70% of Oregon’s licensed health care professionals have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The data also shows that vaccination rates vary across medical professions with dentists achieving the highest vaccination rate and chiropractic assistants having the lowest.

(07/14/21) Viewpoint: COVID-19 Vaccines Should Be a Condition of Employment for Healthcare Personnel
This article from Becker’s Hospital Review highlights a statement released by a national coalition of medical societies. The statement encourages health organizations to make COVID-19 vaccination a condition of employment for health care workers. This recommendation was announced after a thorough review of employment law, recent data on unvaccinated individuals, and the effectiveness of the vaccine.

(07/14/21) Vaxxed or Axed: To Protect Patients, Every Health Care Worker Must Be Vaccinated
This opinion piece from STAT News supports the implementation of COVID-19 vaccination mandates for all health care workers. Several health care organizations have reported low vaccination rates among health care staff and the decision to mandate vaccination may be the best course of action for protecting patients.

(07/13/21) Groups Push for Health Worker COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates
This article reports that a group of coalitions, including the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) urged to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for health care workers. While the Biden Administration has not enforced a vaccine mandate, the coalition claimed that, without equating COVID-19 vaccination to a condition of employment is critical to achieve a sufficient level of vaccination rate.

(07/13/21) Multisociety Statement on COVID-19 Vaccination As a Condition of Employment for Healthcare Personnel
A coalition consisting of multiple international professional medical societies has released a statement, published in Cambridge University Press, recommending vaccination as a condition of employment for those working in health care settings.

(07/13/21) Coalition Says Health Workers Should Be Required to Get Coronavirus Vaccine
The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, the Infectious Diseases Society of America and five other medical groups have released a statement urging medical facilities to enforce COVID-19 vaccination mandates for their workers. The coalition of health-care organizations have also released guidance on navigating regulations, implementing a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, and combating vaccine hesitancy.

(07/08/21) Update: Hospitals, Health Systems Mandating Vaccines for Workers
The number of hospitals and health systems that are now requiring health care employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccination is rapidly growing. This article from Becker’s Hospital Review lists the healthcare organization’s that have announced COVID-19 vaccine mandates as of July 8, 2021.

(07/08/21) COVID-19 Vaccines Could Soon Be Mandatory for VA Employees
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is now weighing in on COVID-19 vaccination mandates for its employees who work in health services. In efforts to ensure the safety of veteran patients and increase vaccination rates among VA staff, the VA Secretary, Denis McDonough, has offered incentives for health care workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccination and may consider a vaccination mandate if necessary.

(07/08/21) Trinity Health Mandates COVID-19 Vaccine for Employees at 91 Hospitals
This article from Becker’s Hospital Review highlights Trinity Health’s decision to mandate the COVID-19 vaccination among its employees. Trinity Health is one of the largest health systems in the nation with 91 hospitals, 113 continuing care facilities, and 117,000 employees. Employees are required to submit proof of vaccination by September 21, 2021.

(07/07/21) Hospitals Pressure Employees to Get Vaccinated as COVID-19 Variants Spread
Several hospital systems are mandating their workers to receive COVID-19 vaccinations in efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 and improve vaccination rates among health care workers. According to the most recent federal data reported by U.S. hospitals, thousands of health care workers remain unvaccinated and yet COVID-19 vaccination mandates are being met with resistance by health care workers, unions, and the public.

(06/30/21) Workers Are More Likely to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine When Their Employers Encourage It and Provide Paid Sick Leave, Though Most Workers Don’t Want Their Employers to Require It
With more employers returning to work, the new KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor report confirms workers are more likely to get a COVID-19 vaccine if their employer provides sick leave to get the vaccine and recovery time if the employee experiences any side effects. Approximately two-thirds of workers report that employers are encouraging getting vaccinated and 50 percent claim that their employer gives paid time off to get the vaccine and provide time for recovery for any side effects.

(06/28/21) Huge Number of Hospital Workers Still Unvaccinated
There is still a huge number of unvaccinated health care workers in the United States. In the 50 largest hospitals in the US, only 1 and 3 health care workers have been vaccinated. The vaccination rates vary greatly from 99% at Houston Methodist Hospital, which requires the vaccination for its health works, to 30-40% at certain hospitals in Florida.

(06/24/21) Several Mass Health Care Systems Will Require COVID-19 Vaccinations for Workers
Similar to trends seen throughout the United States, multiple large health care organizations in Massachusetts have announced vaccine mandates for their employees. Although these mandates have been announced, they will not start until after the Food and Drug Administration has approved the vaccines for general use, as opposed to the current emergency authorization.

(06/23/21) America’s Largest Health Care Union Vows to Fight Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccines
Following the announcement of a vaccine mandate from NewYork-Presbyterian, the largest health care worker union in the United States, 1199SEIU, is planning legal challenges against mandates for health care workers. As more hospital systems consider and implement vaccine mandates on their workers, other unions are also vocalizing disapproval, saying that their workers should be allowed to choose to vaccinate.

(6/22/2021) Ohio Vaccine Choice Bill Back in the Spotlight
This article highlights the Vaccine Choice & Anti-Discrimination Act of Ohio State that has generated controversies by allowing people to opt-out of the COVID-19 vaccination amid the recent controversies over vaccine mandates (House Bill 248). The bill received lots of attention after Dr. Sherri Tenpenny’s testimony at a public hearing on June 10 that said that “the COVID-19 vaccine leads to magnetism and causes metal objects to stick to the body of a person.” The bill sponsor said that the bill is intended to protect people who avoid vaccination from discrimination, but many doctors and health professionals are opposing it.

(06/18/21) The Struggle to Mandate COVID-19 Vaccines for Health Care Workers
While healthcare facilities have urged every employee to get vaccinated against COVID-19, vaccine hesitancy pervades among healthcare workers. Healthcare workers have led the vaccination uptake, however, hesitancy has recently increased among front-line workers, including “home health care aides, EMTs and nursing assistants.

(06/16/21) How Do CMS’s New COVID-19 Vaccine Reporting and Education Rules Apply To Different Long-Term Care Settings?
In an effort to clarify the new rules on vaccine reporting from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Kaiser Family Foundation published this issue brief. There are different requirements for both education and reporting depending on the type of long-term facility.

(06/15/21) COVID-19 Vaccine Passports and Health Care Providers
Florida has passed the Senate Bill 2006 that prohibits businesses from mandating to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination to access services. The new Statute (§ 381.00316) sets “a fine of up to $5,000 per violation” and applies to all private and public organizations in Florida. The bill goes into effect July 1st, 2021.

(06/15/21) Should Hospitals Mandate COVID-19 Vaccination?
This article published by the Association of American Medical Colleges discusses the topic of vaccination mandates for health care workers and the potential consequences of mandates. As some large health systems announce mandates for their workers, others are waiting to see how if vaccination rates will improve over time.

(06/15/21) ‘It’s a Fight You Don’t Want’: Will the Texas Court Ruling Requiring Employees to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine Unleash More Cases?
A Texas judge ruled that employees are required to get the COVID-19 vaccine at a Houston Hospital. This ruling might result in more health care providers requiring their employers to get the COVID-19 vaccination. There are other similar lawsuits pending but this is the first ruling of its kind.

(06/14/21) Court Upholds Houston Hospital’s Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccine Policy: ‘Every Employment Includes Limits on the Worker’s Behavior’
A mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy at a Houston Hospital was upheld by the court last week. The judge made his decision after 178 hospital employees from Houston Methodist Hospital had been suspended for refusing to get vaccinated.

(06/11/21) Health Systems Mandating Vaccinations for Healthcare Workers
Several hospitals and health systems across the nation are requiring their employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccination in efforts to increase vaccination rates among health workers and end the COVID-19 pandemic. Some organizations are pushing for deadlines as early as July 1, 2021, and as late as September 15, 2021. This article from Becker’s Hospital Review lists the organizations that have announced COVID-19 vaccination mandates for their employees as of June 11, 2021.

(06/11/21) ‘It’s a Little Late’: US Orders Healthcare Worker Protections After Thousands Die
The US department last week announced an emergency standard to protect health workers in the workplace from the COVID-19 pandemic. The new order requires employers to not allow employees with COVID-19 to work, notify all employees of any exposures at work, and to better ensure that employers report worker deaths and hospitalizations to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

(06/10/21) US Labor Dept Issues Emergency COVID-19 Rule for Healthcare Workers
The US Labor Department issued an emergency rule to help better protect health care workers in the health care setting. The rule does not extend to other high risk industries. Hospitals, nursing homes and other health facilities will be required within 14 days to implement these rules that include limiting patient visits, new ventilation and screening procedures, and face mask requirements.

(06/09/21) Doctors Combat COVID-19 Vaccine Myths
This article reports that doctors have struggled fighting misinformation of the COVID-19 vaccine. There have been various myths of the vaccine that make people hesitate to vaccinate, including impact to fertility and ingredients that interact with DNA.

(06/09/21) US to Issue COVID-19 Rule for Healthcare Workers on Thursday
This article from CNBC discusses the release of upcoming rules from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration which will require health care providers to take additional steps to protect health care workers from COVID-19.

(06/03/21) First in Line, Still No Shot: Surprising Number of Hospital Workers Refuse Vaccines
A recent survey from USA Today covering some of the largest hospitals and hospital systems in the United States found employee vaccination rates as low as 51% and as high as 91%. The lower-than-desired vaccination rates have public health officials worried, as health care workers can be an example for the population at large.

(06/02/21) Mandating Clinician COVID-19 Vaccination May Hinder Population-Level Uptake
New commentary published in the Society of the Teachers of Family Medicine’s journal Family Medicine examines the potential impact of mandatory clinician vaccination on population-level vaccination. The authors recommend using vaccine mandates on providers with caution and consideration in an effort to avoid unintentional consequences.

(06/01/21) Engaging Nursing Assistants to Enhance Receptivity to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccine
Long-term care facilities were disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in this sector being called the most dangerous job in the nation. Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) practicing in long-term care settings provide most of the direct care to residents and represent the largest proportion of nursing home personnel. Despite their role in long-term care, several studies have found that more than half of CNAs reported that they were unwilling to receive the COVID-19 vaccination until a future point in time. This article from The Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine discusses the importance of understanding and mitigating vaccine hesitancy among CNAs.

(06/01/21) Texas Hospital Workers Sue Over Vaccine Mandates
This article reports a lawsuit case of a group of 117 workers against the Houston Methodist Health System’s policy that mandates the COVID-19 vaccination. The workers claim that the policy deprive their rights to protect themselves from vaccine side effects, while the center explains that the policy is for protecting its patients and workers.

(06/01/21) Despite Vaccines, Nursing Homes Still Struggle With COVID Outbreaks, Deaths
This NBC News article covers the impact of vaccine hesitancy on nursing homes, where unvaccinated staff are being blamed for outbreaks of COVID-19 that force shutdowns of facilities and contribute to deaths and illness among staff and patients. Although nursing homes were an early and important focus for vaccination, the constant inflow of new patients means these facilities remain high risk.

(05/21/21) Interim Estimates of Vaccine Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines Among Health Care Personnel — 33 US Sites, January–March 2021
Newly published data from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report finds the currently authorized mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 are highly effective in preventing symptomatic illness among health care providers. The study observed health care workers at 33 sites in 25 states.

(05/21/21) More Hospitals Require Health Care Workers to Get COVID Vaccine
This article from Axios covers news that large health care systems in multiple states have announced mandates for employees to vaccinate for COVID-19. Surveys of health care workers have found this to be a polarizing issue among workers, with nearly 60% saying they would support their workplace mandating the vaccine.

(05/11/21) CMS Expanding Efforts to Grow COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence and Uptake Amongst Nation’s Most Vulnerable
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced a new regulation requiring long-term care facilities and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities to release information on the vaccination status of both providers and patients, beginning June 14, 2021.

(05/06/21) Asymptomatic and Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infections After BNT162b2 Vaccination in a Routinely Screened Workforce
A new study published on the JAMA Network found that hospital workers that received the COVID-19 vaccination were significantly less likely to test positive for COVID-19. The study was conducted by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee and analyzed data for vaccinated and unvaccinated workers at the hospital between Dec. 17, 2020, and March 20, 2021. Of the 5,217 workers that met vaccination criteria, 58.5% received at least one dose of Pfizer-BioNTech, 53.2% received two doses, and 41.5% remained unvaccinated. The study found that 51 vaccinated workers and 185 unvaccinated workers contracted COVID-19 during the study period.

(05/04/21) Why Lagging COVID-19 Vaccine Rate At Rural Hospitals ‘Needs To Be Fixed Now’
Rural hospitals are concerned with the COVID-19 vaccination rates among their health care employees. According to a survey conducted by the National Rural Health Association and Chartis Center for Rural Health, 30% of 160 rural hospital executives reported that less than half of their employees were vaccinated. The Biden administration has since announced that it would focus on prioritizing the distribution of COVID-19 vaccination doses to providers that practice in high needs areas, including rural communities.

(04/28/21) NMSU Study: COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Health Care Workers Remains a Concern
This article covers a new study from New Mexico State University on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among health care workers throughout the world. The summarizing study found that more than one-fifth of health care workers involved in studies from more than a dozen countries were hesitant to be vaccinated. Male workers, older workers, and workers with doctoral or postgraduate education were most likely to accept vaccination.

(04/26/21) COVID Vaccines More Available, but Mostly Not in Doctors’ Offices
Many physicians across the United States are reportedly unable to provide vaccines for their patients. Just one state, Maryland, has prioritized access to vaccinations for physicians offices across the state, a model the White House has expressed interest in promoting. In other locations, physicians are petitioning their local and state government for the ability to offer the vaccine to their patients.

(04/16/21) Are Health Centers Facilitating Equitable Access to COVID-19 Vaccinations? An April 2021 Update.
This issue brief from KFF takes a look at how safety net providers at community health centers are working to vaccinate low-income populations and people of color. Key findings include that a majority of individuals vaccinated at community health centers are people of color, although there are also area for improving reach to people of color.

(04/12/21) Inequity in Vaccinations Isn’t Always About Hesitancy, it’s About Access
This article from the Association of American Medical Colleges provides insight on issues of vaccine access and how providers can organize to improve vaccination rates in hard-to-reach communities.

(04/09/21) Vaccine Hesitancy Among Health Care Workers Raises Concerns
Thousands of health care workers in North Carolina have declined to get the COVID-19 vaccinations, according to an informal survey sent to 32 health systems, representing over a 100 hospitals. Those numbers are significantly less than state health care leaders expected.

(04/05/21) Giving it Our Best Shot – Statewide Vaccination Plans (UPDATED)
This toolkit offers some state-level advisory and guidance on eligibility for vaccine rollouts to help employers as well as health care systems and long-term care determine eligibility for vaccination. Although this list is not all-inclusive, it connects to resources specific to each state.

(04/05/21) Why Doctors and Nurses Can Be Vital Vaccine Messengers
Doctors and nurses have proven to be the most trusted source of information for COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccination. A recent Kaiser Family Foundation and Washington Post survey of health care workers found that nearly 9 in 10 physicians and nurses with master’s degrees report being vaccinated or plan to receive the vaccine. KFF also found that 8 in 10 patients rely on their doctors and nurses to assist with the decision to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

(04/05/21) Should Health Care Workers Be Required to Get Coronavirus Shots? Companies Grapple With Mandates
Silverado, a long-term care company with several locations across the country, is one of the first facilities to require their staff to at least be scheduled to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Several health care companies are debating the need to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations among their workers. A recent poll conducted by Washington Post and Kaiser Family Foundation found that most health care workers would support such a mandate. However, those that did not plan on receiving a COVID-19 vaccination would rather leave their jobs than be forced to get vaccinated.

(04/03/21) Health Care Providers Work to Ensure Everyone Gets Second COVID-19 Shot
Health care providers in Kern County, California are concerned as many patients are canceling their appointments to receive their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccination. The Kern County COVID-19 Task Force in collaboration with Dignity health is working to reduce vaccine hesitancy and ensure that residents are receiving their second COVID-19 vaccination.

(04/03/21) Virginia Launches New Volunteer Vaccinator Registry to Expand State’s COVID-19 Vaccination Workforce
The Governor of Virginia has recently signed legislation that will assist with expanding the state’s vaccinator workforce. Dentists, dental hygienists, veterinarians, optometrists, and health profession students are now eligible to administer COVID-19 vaccinations. Eligible providers are encouraged to register as a volunteer COVID-19 vaccinator through the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps or the Virginia Volunteer Vaccinator Registry.

(04/01/21) In California, Blue Shield’s Vaccination Takeover Fixes What Wasn’t Broken
This article from Kaiser Health News discusses COVID-19 vaccination distribution efforts among California’s Mendocino County rural population. Approximately 40% of eligible adults have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Since March, health insurer Blue Shield has been appointed the lead distributor of COVID-19 vaccinations and will directly supply doses to providers.

(03/31/21) The Health Center COVID-19 Vaccination Program Is Prioritizing Hard-to-reach Communities
The Health Center COVID-19 Vaccination Program, which launched February 2021, is assisting community health centers with providing equitable COVID-19 vaccination access to underserved populations. Approximately 325 health centers are participating in the program and 700 more health centers are being added. The Biden Administration anticipates adding all 1,400 health center organizations across the US by May 2021.

(03/31/21) Federal Program to Bring Vaccine to Nursing Homes Missed Around Half of Staff
This article from NPR covers the issue of vaccine hesitancy and refusal in nursing homes. Across the United States, staff at long-term care facilities are refusing to be vaccinated for COVID-19, concerning health experts due to the outsized number of deaths and severe illness among long-term care residents from COVID-19.

(03/29/21) Survey Shows Patients and Clinicians Want Primary Care More Involved in Mass Vaccination Efforts
The 27th round of primary care surveys from the Primary Care Collaborative and the Larry A. Green Center finds that nearly half of clinicians reported their patients are seeking vaccination from their primary care provider, and nearly three-quarters of providers are seeking to provide the vaccine to aid mass vaccination efforts.

(03/29/21) COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Is Still a Major Issue Concerning Health Care Providers
Although the COVID-19 vaccination rates are increasing in North Carolina, a large portion of the population is struggling with vaccine hesitancy. Local health experts and providers are working to address vaccine hesitancy by dispelling COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and improving COVID-19 vaccination efforts.

(03/26/21) A User’s Guide: How to Talk to Those Hesitant About the COVID-19 Vaccine
In this piece published by STAT, expert vaccine scholars and physicians discuss effective methods fir addressing vaccine hesitancy among many populations. One key takeaway includes avoiding allowing emotion and fear to guide the conversation, and instead focusing on facts.

(03/25/21) Biden to Direct $100M to Boost Network of Volunteer Health Professionals
This article from Becker’s Hospital Review announces President Biden’s plan to distribute $100 million of the COVID-19 relief package to the Medical Reserve Corps in hopes of improving COVID-19 vaccination rates. The Medical Reserve Corps. is a national network of approximately 200,000 volunteer health professionals that can assist with providing administrative support and running vaccination clinics.

(03/19/21) KFF/Post Survey of Frontline Health Care Workers Finds Nearly Half Remain Unvaccinated
A new survey from KFF/The Washington Post finds that just over half of all frontline health care workers in the United States have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Another key finding of this survey is 30% of unvaccinated frontline health care workers have either not decided to be vaccinated or decided not to be vaccinated as of yet.

(03/18/21) Lessons From the COVID-19 Crisis: Overcrowding Hospitals Cost Lives
A recent study that was published on the JAMA Network and conducted by researchers at the Department of Veterans Affairs found that the mortality rate of patients admitted to the ICU increased as ICU demand increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Another study conducted by researchers in the U.K. found similar findings during both the first wave of COVID-19 patients and the fall surge of patients. Both studies are unsure of additional factors that may have caused the increased mortality rate, but the studies illustrate the consequences of hospitals operating at maximum capacity.

(03/16/21) CMS Hikes COVID-19 Vaccine Pay, Broadens Scope of Providers to Give Jab
The Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services has increased COVID-19 vaccination reimbursement rates for Medicare beneficiaries in efforts to encourage more providers to administer the vaccine. Several health professionals have become eligible to administer COVID-19 vaccinations including dentists, optometrists, paramedics, healthcare students and retired medical professionals.

(03/15/21) Addiction and Behavioral Health Care Workers Should Have Access to COVID-19 Testing and Vaccines
This opinion piece from STAT News describes the need for addiction and behavioral health care workers to gain access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly increased the demand for mental health services, these essential health care workers have struggled to obtain PPE and have been excluded from the priority list for the COVID-19 vaccination.

(03/12/21) A Look at How Medicaid Agencies Are Assisting with the COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-out
Medicaid has largely contributed to COVID-19 vaccination distribution efforts. A collaborative study from the Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Management Associates found that several state Medicaid programs have participated in at least one vaccine roll-out activity. Medicaid’s response efforts included outreach, technical assistance for providers, planning and implementation with public health agencies.

(03/10/21) Are Health Centers Facilitating Equitable Access to COVID-19 Vaccinations?
This issue brief from Kaiser Family Foundation focuses on the equitability of access to COVID-19 vaccines for health centers throughout the United States. The data for this brief comes from a weekly federal survey of health centers and found that more than half of patients who receive vaccination at health centers are people of color.

(03/10/21) ‘A Wild Year’: School Nurses Greatly Expand Role With COVID-19 Vaccinations
This article from STAT looks back at what the past year of the COVID-19 pandemic has meant for the role of school nurses. School nurses have filled rolls at contact tracers and symptom screeners, as well as current plans to aid in mass vaccination.

(03/09/21) Barriers Keep Many Primary Care Practices From Vaccinating Seniors
This article from STAT News highlights the challenges and barriers that primary care providers are facing during their efforts to distribute COVID-19 vaccinations to seniors. Some of the challenges include coordinating pre-vaccination and post-vaccination care, high administration costs, and scheduling.

(03/09/21) Nursing Students are Mass Vaccinating Atlanta
Georgia State University is using its nursing program to help with mass vaccination in Atlanta. The COVID-19 pandemic has limited many nursing students in how they can acquire their clinical hours, and mass vaccinating is a valuable way to gain training opportunities lost.

(03/08/21) Health Department: 618 Vaccine Providers in all 64 Parishes Will Receive COVID Vaccine This Week
The Louisiana Department of Health has coordinated COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts with pharmacies, hospitals, public health providers, urgent cares, federally qualified health centers, medical practices, and rural health clinics. LDH has announced community vaccination events, provided a list of participating providers, and released guidance on vaccine eligibility.

(03/08/21) Long-Term Care Providers, Experts Debate Legality of Vaccine Mandates
Ethical and legal concerns are at the forefront of a debate to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for employees of long-term care facilities. Some experts believe that a federal mandate is necessary for the protection of facility residents.

(03/08/21) Now Approved to Administer COVID-19 Vaccine, NC Dentists Eager to Help Fight Pandemic
The North Carolina Dentist Board has approved dentists to administer COVID-19 vaccines in state. Dentists can now be more central to the fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

(03/04/21) The Conversation: Between Us, About Us, a New Campaign By Black Health Care Workers for Black People about the COVID-19 Vaccines
Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) and Black Coalition Against Covid have launched a new campaign to better inform Black communities about COVID-19 vaccines. They are creating an ongoing visual library archive as new information and resources become available.

(03/04/21) A Review of State Health Department COVID-19 Websites: Concerns and Recommendations
This blog post from Health Affairs offers a review of websites set up by state-level health departments across the United States to address COVID-19 vaccination, highlighting issues and offering suggestions for improvement. Many health care providers are expressing difficulty finding information on becoming vaccine providers, with inconsistency in terminology and lack of clear pathways to information.

(03/04/21) Dealing With COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Health Care Workers
The head of the medical ethics division at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Arthur Caplan, discusses vaccine hesitancy among health care workers. He highlights some of the major causes of vaccine hesitancy among this group and proposes practical strategies to improve vaccination rates for health care workers.

(03/03/21) Los Angeles County Finds Fewer Cases Among Health Care Workers as More Get Vaccinated
Los Angeles county health officials report that new COVID-19 cases among health care workers have significantly declined due to high vaccination rates among this group. Nursing home and long-term facility care workers have seen the largest decrease in new cases as they accounted for one quarter of all COVID-19 cases in the county. A nationwide Kaiser Family Foundation analysis conducted between February 15 and February 23, found that Los Angeles county is leading in the race to achieve a fully vaccinated health workforce.

(03/03/21) Rural Americans in Pharmacy Deserts Hurting for Covid Vaccines
Pharmacies have played a critical role in increasing access to the COVID-19 vaccination across the United States. However, the Rural Policy Research Center found that approximately 111 rural counties do not have access to a pharmacy. Several rural communities may face disproportionate barriers of access to the vaccine which may impact vaccine distribution.

(03/02/21) Utah Department of Health Partners With Healthcare Providers To Expand COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
The Utah Department of Health announced a partnership with the University of Utah Health, Intermountain Healthcare, and Nomi Health in an effort to expand COVID-19 vaccine distribution.

(02/26/21) COVID Vaccine Survey of over 600 Health Care Providers: Shows 62% of Health Care Providers Don’t Know How to Obtain Vaccines
Rockpointe, a continuing education company in Columbia, MD, collaborated with multiple state medical societies to develop and distribute an online survey to healthcare providers. The purpose of the survey was to gain insights into their knowledge, perceptions, and experiences with COVID-19 vaccines. The survey was distributed on January 23, 2021 and received 655 health care provider responses by February 2, 2021.

(02/26/21) COVID Vaccine Survey of over 600 Health Care Providers: Shows 62% of Health Care Providers Don’t Know How to Obtain Vaccines
Rockpointe, a continuing education company in Columbia, MD, collaborated with multiple state medical societies to develop and distribute an online survey to healthcare providers. The purpose of the survey was to gain insights into their knowledge, perceptions, and experiences with COVID-19 vaccines. The survey was distributed on January 23, 2021 and received 655 health care provider responses by February 2, 2021.

(02/24/21) Pharmacy Students, Dentists, Other Health Care Providers Can Administer COVID-19 Vaccine in Kansas
Governor Laura Kelly issued an executive order allowing pharmacy students, dentists, paramedics and others in health care professions to administer COVID-19 vaccinations.

(02/23/21) Calling All Vaccinators: Closing the Next Gap in COVID Supply and Demand
This article from Kaiser Health News reports that the demand for COVID-19 vaccines is outweighing the supply of vaccines and vaccinators. States have expanded liability protections and the scope of practice for some health professionals, permitting them to administer COVID-19 vaccinations. Some states are allowing dentists, paramedics, pharmacy interns and recently retired doctors and nurses to vaccinate the public.

(02/23/21) Primary Care & COVID-19: Round 26 Survey
The Primary Care Collaborative and the Larry A. Green Center have added the next round of their surveys studying the impact of COVID-19 on primary care clinicians. Key findings from this round include clinicians reporting little to no information on COVID-19 vaccines at the local level, and clinicians reporting significant physical and mental tolls relating to the pandemic.

(02/22/21) Countless Homebound Patients Still Wait for COVID-19 Vaccine Despite Seniors’ Priority
Unlike nursing home patients, seniors at high risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 that are homebound are having a difficult time getting vaccines, according to this KHN article.

(02/20/21) Health Care Staffing Concerns Ease as Workforce gets Vaccinated for COVID-19
This article from GazzetteXtra discusses the impact of prioritizing vaccination among healthcare workers. Mercyhealth’s Medical Director, Mark Goelzer, anticipates an ease in staffing concerns as more front-line workers get vaccinated. Although, new CDC guidelines will assist with keeping healthcare workers on the job, staffing levels at health care facilities could still be affected by vaccine hesitancy among some employees.

(02/19/21) It’s Essential to Understand Why Some Health Care Workers are Putting Off Vaccination
This article discusses vaccine hesitancy among health care workers. Early data from reports conducted in December by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that health care workers overall were about as likely to be hesitant about getting the vaccine as the general population. A new report by a consortium of Universities found that low-income health care workers were also less likely to receive the vaccine. Some key lessons about why some health care workers are putting off the vaccine are emerging from these early trends.

(02/19/21) To Vaccinate Veterans, Health Care Workers Must Cross Mountains, Plains and Tundra
This article from Kaiser Health News covers the difficult journey health care workers are making in an effort to vaccinate vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations, such as veterans in rural Montana. Health care workers in the Veterans Health Administration are transporting primarily the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, which requires use within 12 hours of thawing.

(02/19/21) Workforce COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Among 6 Top U.S. Hospitals
This article from Becker’s Hospital Review highlights vaccination rates among health care workers in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Houston Methodist, NYU Langone Hospitals, Rush University Medical Center, Stanford Health Care, and University of California.

(02/17/21) Armed and Ready for the Future: Dental Hygienists and Dentists Administering Vaccines
This opinion piece calls for increased regulatory flexibility to allow dentists and dental hygienists to administer COVID-19 vaccines. In 2009, New York and Massachusetts allowed dentists to administer H1N1 vaccines, and following a similar pattern may allow further access to vaccination.

(02/11/21) Primary Care Remains Untapped As US Struggles to Administer COVID-19 Vaccines
A recent survey conducted by the Primary Care Collaborative and the Larry A Green Center shows that the vast majority of clinicians believe primary care should support vaccine distribution despite the challenges that primary care practices are facing.

(02/10/21) Primary Care & COVID-19: Round 25 Survey
This edition of the Primary Care Collaborative and Larry A. Green Center COVID-19 survey of primary care clinicians shows primary care is at the forefront in advancing vaccine distribution. Primary care providers are helping to refer, educate, and reach out to patients about the vaccine, all while remaining unsure if or when they will be able to provide the vaccine themselves.

(02/10/21) Dentists Given Authority to Administer COVID-19 Vaccine, Per Gov. Cooper Executive Order
Governor Roy Cooper issued Executive Order 193 on Feb. 9, which gives NCDHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen discretion to expand the types of providers who may have the authority to administer FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines. Dentists licensed in North Carolina are now included in that provider group.

(02/09/21) White House to Ship COVID-19 Vaccines Directly to Community Health Centers
The White House has announced that a newly developed program will allow community health centers to receive COVID-19 vaccines directly from the federal government. The goal of the community health center program is to focus on equitable vaccine distribution, in order to reach traditionally underserved areas.

(02/09/21) About 60% of Nursing Home Staff Declined COVID Vaccines, Walgreens Exec Says
This news article discusses the challenges that Walgreens and CVS Health are facing due to vaccine hesitancy among staff members of long-term care facilities.

(02/09/21) Vaccine Hesitancy vs. Vaccine Refusal: Nursing Home Staffers Say There’s a Difference
This article from Kaiser Health News discusses vaccine hesitancy among health care workers in nursing homes.

(02/09/21) Biden Wants to Partner With Health Centers to Promote More Equitable Access to COVID-19 Vaccines
The Biden administration plans to partner with community health centers to improve access to vaccines in the hardest-to-reach-populations. The administration’s strategy also proposes that health centers will have access to vaccine distribution plans and be able directly access the vaccine supply.

(02/05/21) What Does a Multi-Dose Series Mean for the COVID-19 Vaccination Effort?
This article from Kaiser Family Foundation discusses the key issues related to a multi-dose vaccination series.

(02/05/21) Some Health Workers Say They’re Not Refusing the Vaccine, They Just Need Some Time
This news article discusses the vaccine hesitancy among health care workers, particularly in nursing homes.

(02/04/21) How New Models of Vaccine Development for COVID-19 Have Helped Address an Epic Public Health Crisis
This journal article from Health Affairs analyzes how resources, cooperation, and innovation have contributed to the accelerated development of COVID-19 vaccines.

(02/04/21) Reflections on Governance, Communication, And Equity: Challenges And Opportunities In COVID-19 Vaccination
This Journal article from Health Affairs discusses the challenges and opportunities of the Covid-19 vaccination roll out.

(02/02/2021) Why Are so Many Health-Care Workers Resisting the COVID Vaccine?
This article, published in the New Yorker, discusses reasons behind vaccine hesitancy among health care workers, where as many as one-third are reporting reluctance to receive a vaccine. Certified nursing assistants, emergency medical technicians, home health aides, and others are reporting substantially higher rates of reluctance compared to nurses and physicians.

(02/02/21) To Improve COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution, Engage Behavioral Health Providers
This post from the Health Affairs blog advocates for utilizing behavioral health providers to assist in both education and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. The post also calls for increased funding for behavioral health services, as ensuring patients with behavioral health conditions receive both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will require further effort.

(02/01/21) HHS Amends PREP Act Declaration to Increase Workforce Authorized to Administer COVID-19 Vaccines
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a fifth amendment to the Declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) to increase the workforce authorized to administer COVID-19 vaccines.

(02/01/21) Why Health Care Companies Are Paying Workers to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine
This article examines the hesitancy of health care workers to get vaccinated and examines the new trend among health care companies to pay their workers to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

(01/31/21) Patience Is Key When Reacting to Health Care Workers Who Refuse the COVID-19 Vaccine
This NPR podcast urges to show patience to nursing home staff workers who decline the COVID-19 vaccine.

(01/29/21) Most Nursing Home Staff in NY Are Skipping the COVID-19 Vaccine, and No One Really Knows Why
This article finds whereas long-term care facilities in New York are taking the vaccine in large quantities, staff at skilled nursing facilities are choosing not to get vaccinated. In New York, 72% of residents and 44% of workers have been vaccinated so far.

(1/28/21) Growing Racial Inequities in LA County Vaccine Rollout Raise Alarms
An LA Times article examines the disparity among Black healthcare workers who have been vaccinated compared to other racial groups.

(01/25/21) What’s It Like to Get the Second Dose of a COVID-19 Vaccine? We Asked Health Workers
Some health workers who were among the first to get a COVID-19 vaccine have recently received their second doses. This article from WHYY’s Health Desk discusses interviews with health workers about their experience receiving the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, whether they had any side effects, and what it means for them to be fully vaccinated.

(01/22/21) Four Steps to Help Achieve COVID-19 Vaccine Adoption: How Health Professionals Can Embrace Their Role As Messengers
This Health Affairs blog post suggests 4 strategies that health professionals can use to optimally leverage their position as vaccine messengers. The 4 strategies include: recognizing vaccine hesitancy, learning from disinformation campaigns, avoiding offering false reassurance, and shifting traditional public health messages to community-based, hopeful ones.

(01/22/21) Some Health Care Workers Hesitant to Get COVID-19 Vaccine, Complicating Public Health Efforts
This video from CBS News covers the hesitancy some health care workers are expressing over being vaccinated for COVID-19. An estimated 29% of health care workers say they probably will not or definitely will not be vaccinated, leading experts and organizations to try alternate strategies to build trust and improve vaccination rates among their staff.

(01/22/21) I’m a Black Doctor Who Didn’t Trust the COVID Vaccine. Here’s What Changed My Mind.
An opinion piece from a black doctor that argues for normalizing hesitancy to take the COVID-19 vaccine. The writer discusses her concern that the underrepresentation of black people among those who have been vaccinated will lead to an increase of racial disparities in COVID-19 infection and mortality rates.

(01/21/21) Key Characteristics of Health Care Workers and Implications for COVID-19 Vaccination
This issue brief from the Kaiser Family Foundation provides overviews of demographic characteristics and health insurance coverage for health care workers with direct patient contact. The goal of the analysis is to improve understanding of the makeup of health care workers to better inform vaccination efforts.

(01/19/21) ‘You Can’t Treat If You Can’t Empathize’: Black Doctors Tackle Vaccine Hesitancy
This article from NPR covers the historical reasons behind vaccine hesitancy among Black Americans, as well as how Black physicians and other health care providers can work to improve vaccination rates and treatment of Black patients.

(1/15/21) New Survey: 15% of US Healthcare Workers Refuse to Take COVID Vaccine
A new survey finds that 15% of healthcare workers who have been approved for the COVID-19 vaccine are refusing to take it. This is the first comprehensive vaccine hesitancy survey of healthcare workers in the United States.

(01/15/21) Geography Is Destiny: Dentists’ Access to COVID Shots Depends on Where They Live
Dentists are experiencing difficulty being vaccinated for COVID-19, according to this article from Kaiser Health News. In some states, dentists are lower on the priority list for receiving vaccines than other health care workers, even though dental work remains high risk for exposure to COVID-19.

(01/15/21) CVS and Walgreens Under Fire for Slow Pace of Vaccination in Nursing Homes
A federal program to send pharmacists from CVS and Walgreens into long-term care facilities to vaccinate staff and patients has reportedly hampered the vaccination process in many of these locations, according to nursing home directors, health care officials, and others. This article from CNN and Kaiser Health News covers these difficulties.

(01/14/21) Hospital Offering Employees Money in Exchange for Getting COVID-19 Vaccine
In an effort to increase vaccination rates, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other health care facilities across the United States are offering employees financial bonuses in exchange for being vaccinated.

(01/13/21) Hospitals’ Rocky Rollout of COVID Vaccine Sparks Questions of Fairness
This article from Kaiser Health News highlights the questions hospitals across the United States are facing in the wake of their vaccination rollout plans, which have often come with controversy. Lacking a consistent federal strategy, many states and health systems have created their own plans, sometimes vaccinating workers and administrators who do not treat patients before vaccinating the entire patient-facing workforce.

(01/10/21) At Elite Medical Centers, Even Workers Who Don’t Qualify Are Vaccinated
Nonclinical workers are being vaccinated at medical centers across the United States, even as front-line staff at many hospitals are still not vaccinated. Younger, healthy graduate students and health care administrators are reportedly receiving the vaccine ahead of older, patient-facing essential workers.

(01/10/21) Despite Having Intimate Knowledge of the Pain and Death Caused by the Coronavirus, a Surprising Number of US Healthcare Workers Are Refusing to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine
An article from Business Insider discussing the issue of health care workers in the United States who are declining to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Recent reporting has found as many as 80% of staff in some facilities are rejecting the vaccine, causing concern about the increased risk of the virus to health care providers and their patients.

(01/07/21) COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Among Health Care Workers in the United States
This journal article that examines healthcare workers attitudes to receiving the COVID-19 vaccination to better understand the barriers to widespread vaccination acceptance.

(01/06/21) January 14 Web Event: A Shot in the Arm for Long-term Care Facilities? Early Lessons From the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout to High Priority Populations
The Kaiser Family Foundation conducted an interactive web event featuring expert advice and key takeaways of the COVID-19 vaccine administration in the long-term care industry. The webinar included perspectives from patients, nursing home officials, and pharmacy providers performing vaccinations, among others.

(01/05/21) Some Health Care Workers Say They Are ‘Forgotten’ in COVID-19 Vaccination Plans
Health care workers who work for staffing agencies are reporting inability to be vaccinated for COVID-19, even as they work across multiple facilities. Private medical practices are also reporting they are unable to secure vaccines for their providers due to lack of hospital affiliation.

(01/05/21) COVID-19 Vaccine May Not Get to Long-term Care Facilities Quickly Enough
This article from NPR covers the current deadly reality of the COVID-19 pandemic in long-term care facilities. Although vaccination has begun in long-term care facilities across the United States, deaths from COVID-19 among staff and residents are on the rise.

(01/04/21) COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Among Health Care Workers in the United States
This journal article examines attitudes about COVID-19 vaccination among health care workers to better address barriers to widespread vaccination acceptance.

(01/04/21) Primary Care & COVID-19: Round 24 Survey
This survey from the Primary Care Collaborative interviewed nearly 1,500 primary care clinicians from all 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico between December 11-14, 2020. Key findings include 89% of respondents stating they will voluntarily be vaccinated for COVID-19 when possible, with just 5% reporting their workplace will require it of them.

(01/04/21) Cuomo Threatens Fines for Providers That Don’t Use Vaccines Quickly
New regulation from the New York State Department of Health was announced by Governor Andrew Cuomo regarding the need of health care providers within the state to utilize all their vaccine allocations within 7 days or risk fines and loss of future vaccine allocations. During a press conference, it was announced that less than half of all vaccines distributed thus far have been used.

(01/04/21) ‘Planning Is the Antidote to Panic’: Providence Hospital System Defies America’s Slow Vaccine Rollout Trend
In this article from CNBC, the chief clinical officer for Providence Hospital System details how the organization has managed to vaccinate more than 60,000 employees in 51 hospitals spread across seven states. The system made rigorous plans and utilized technology to help evaluate risk and prioritize which workers would be vaccinated when.

(01/04/21) ‘Still Waiting for My Turn’: Primary Care Doctors Are Being Left Behind in The Vaccine Rollout
Primary care providers who are not affiliated with hospital systems are struggling to acquire vaccines, even as they treat patients infected with COVID-19. A recent survey found that more than three-quarters of primary care clinicians are unsure where or when they will be able to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

(01/03/20) Large Numbers of Health Care and Frontline Workers are Refusing COVID-19 Vaccine
Many health care workers throughout the United States are reportedly declining to be vaccinated for COVID-19, with some places reporting more than 50% of workers refusing. Although currently not required in most States and federally, there is a chance vaccination will be mandated if sufficient numbers of vaccinations to prevent further outbreaks of COVID-19 do not occur.

(12/31/20) Ohio Gov: 60 Percent of Nursing Home Staff Elected Not to Take COVID-19 Vaccine
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine recently announced that a majority of staff in long-term care facilities in Ohio have refused to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Ohio does not require these health care workers to be vaccinated for COVID-19, but strongly encourages it.

(12/28/20) Willingness of Long‐Term Care Staff to Receive a COVID‐19 Vaccine: A Single State Survey
This journal article strategizes a plan for COVID 19 vaccine distribution in Indiana, surveying nursing home and assisted living facility staff.

(12/28/20) As Hospitals Rollout COVID-19 Vaccines, Health Care Workers Describe Chaos and Anger
Health care workers in multiple states are reporting frustration with the vaccination process being used by individual health systems, where providers treating COVID-19-infected patients are being vaccinated secondary to providers with minimal exposure.

(12/23/20) Some Said the Vaccine Rollout Would Be a ‘Nightmare.’ They Were Right
In this opinion piece, jointly published by The New York Times and Kaiser Health News, some of the problems with vaccine distribution and allocation for the health workforce are analyzed. Issues with communication and federal oversight have led to delays and fewer vaccines being delivered to states than initially promised.

(12/21/20) 3 Lessons From Stanford’s COVID-19 Vaccine Algorithm Debacle
This article from STAT offers some lessons learned regarding the issues Stanford’s health system experienced in utilizing an algorithm to determine which health care workers would be prioritized for vaccination. These lessons include testing the algorithm more before implementation and considering how data may contain structural bias.

(12/21/20) US Healthcare Workers Protest Chaos in Hospitals’ Vaccine Rollout
Health care providers at multiple hospital systems throughout the United States are expressing frustration and protesting current vaccine distribution plans. Some hospitals have blamed poorly-functioning technology as a reason providers are unable to book appointments or have been overlooked for priority.

(12/19/20) ‘I Failed’: Operation Warp Speed Leader Takes Responsibility for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Confusion
Governors of multiple states have complained of receiving fewer COVID-19 vaccines than originally promised from the federal government. The leader of Operation Warp Speed, General Gustave Perna, states he takes responsibility for communication issues and that there should be no further issues with production or distribution of the vaccines.

(12/18/20) Only 7 of Stanford’s First 5,000 Vaccines Were Designated for Medical Residents
Medical residents are an essential workforce treating patients infected with COVID-19, however their needs are not always prioritized by health systems. An investigation from ProPublica found that medical residents were not prioritized for vaccination over physicians who do not usually treat patients.

(12/18/20) Hospitals Grow Tense Over Who Gets Vaccinated, How It’s Decided
As hospitals make decisions regarding vaccine prioritization, some have come under fire for prioritizing high-ranking providers who do not typically treat patients over providers working directly with patients.

(12/17/20) Officials Stress That the Pandemic ‘Is Not Over Yet’ as US Vaccinations Begin
Although vaccinations for COVID-19 have begun with priority populations in the United States, there is still widespread uncontrolled infection. As vaccine supply is limited, health officials are urging resiliency and patience in adhering to COVID-19 guidelines.

(12/17/20) Nursing Homes, Ravaged by COVID-19, Start Vaccinating the Most Vulnerable
In this article from The New York Times, nursing home administrators discuss their optimism over vaccines for COVID-19, but warn the battle to end the pandemic is far from over. Staff and residents of long-term care facilities in several states are now receiving some of the earliest doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

(12/17/20) Some Health Care Workers Are Getting the Vaccine. Others Aren’t. Who Decides?
Health care workers across the United States are waiting for information on when they will be able to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. With broad federal guidance, many states and hospital systems themselves have set more specific protocols, however smaller clinics and emergency responders are worried they will be forgotten.

(12/15/20) Nursing, Doctor and Hospital Groups Urge Health Workers to Take COVID-19 Vaccine
National groups representing nurses, doctors, and hospitals are urging all health care providers to get vaccinated for COVID-19 as soon as possible. The American Nurses Association, American Medical Association, and American Hospital Association are seeking to overcome opposition to a vaccine and help protect doctors, nurses, and patients.

(12/14/20) Hospitals Prepare to Vaccinate Workers: 6 Things to Know
This update from Becker’s Hospital Review covers the mass distribution and vaccination efforts for the first approved vaccine for COVID-19 in the United States. Long-term care facilities and hospitals prepare to vaccinate their highest risk staff and patients in an effort to bring an end to the pandemic.

(12/14/20) COVID ‘D-Day’: ICU Nurse in New York Among First in Country to Receive Vaccination
The first health care worker in the United States has received the first approved vaccine for COVID-19. This vaccination marks the beginning of the largest vaccination campaign in the history of the country.

(12/14/20) Hospitals Scramble to Prioritize COVID Vaccine for Their Workers. Who Gets Them First?
Although a vaccine for COVID-19 has been approved for use in the United States, the limited supply of the vaccine means hospitals and states have needed to set priorities for administration. These priorities often include those at highest risk, such as elderly individuals or those who treat the sickest patients with COVID-19.

(12/10/20) Health Care Professionals Can Decline COVID-19 Vaccine — for Now
Some health care professionals are concerned with the leading COVID-19 vaccines, with some surveys showing as many as one-third of nurses stating they would refuse to take a vaccine. This article discusses the history of mandatory vaccination and discusses how health care providers will be allowed to refuse the vaccine, at least for the time being.

(12/04/20) Health Systems Eye Staggered Schedule and End-of-week COVID-19 Shots to Mitigate Workforce Shortages
Health systems across the United States are preparing for receipt of the first batches of COVID-19 vaccines, requiring strategic scheduling and prioritization for employment inoculation. Workforce shortages are already a reality throughout the nation, with fear that side effects of COVID-19 vaccines could sideline more workers leading to these new strategies.

(12/01/20) Health Care Workers, Nursing Home Residents to Be Prioritized for COVID-19 Vaccine
This article from NPR covers the vote from a federal advisory committee at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that authorized the first doses of COVID-19 vaccination to go to health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities.

(11/27/20) Hospitals Race to Set Vaccine Priorities for Health-care Workers
With a COVID-19 vaccine appearing imminent, health care systems throughout the US are creating plans for internal distribution of a vaccine. The United States has 21 million health care workers, likely requiring prioritization even among health care workers for who will receive a vaccine given expectations of fewer doses being available initially.

(11/24/20) Some Health Care Workers Are Wary of Getting COVID-19 Vaccines
Most states have made plans to prioritize frontline health care workers for COVID-19 vaccination, however some of these providers have voiced concern over the safety and effectiveness of any COVID-19 vaccine. This article covers how the politicization and speed of the vaccine development process have impacted trust of health care workers.

(11/18/20) States Are Getting Ready to Distribute COVID-19 Vaccines. What Do Their Plans Tell Us So Far?
This issue brief from the Kaiser Family Foundation investigates how prepared states are for distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. The brief looks at the the priorities for distribution of a vaccine as well as which providers will administer the vaccine and how the data on vaccine use will be collected and reported.

(11/11/20) ‘We’re Being Left Behind’: Rural Hospitals Can’t Afford Ultra-cold Freezers to Store the Leading COVID-19 Vaccine
This article from STAT highlights fears rural hospitals are vocalizing over the difficulty transporting and storing the leading COVID-19 vaccine, which Pfizer has announced will require ultra-cold freezers and cannot be refrozen upon thawing.

(11/10/20) Most States Aren’t Ready to Distribute the Leading COVID-19 Vaccine
ProPublica has published a review of state distribution plans for the leading COVID-19 vaccine, based on an announcement this week on early success from Pfizer. The investigation finds that most states, especially those with large rural populations, will find difficulty distributing the vaccine based on the current storage and transportation requirements to maintain the vaccine effectiveness.

(11/05/20) First COVID-19 Vaccine Doses to Go To Health Workers, Say CDC Advisers
A committee head for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that health care workers will be prioritized to receive the first doses of any effective COVID-19 vaccine. The order in which health care providers are granted access to an approved vaccine will depend on the approval process from the Food and Drug Administration itself.

(10/18/20) Healthcare Workers, High-risk People Will Get Priority for COVID-19 Vaccine in New York: Governor
An article highlighting an announcement by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo that the state will prioritize distribution of any approved COVID-19 vaccine to front-line health care workers and the elderly first. The health care workers prioritized include those directly working with patients in primary care, hospitals, and long-term care facilities.

(09/24/20) Who Gets Coronavirus Vaccine First? Maybe Not All Front-line Healthcare Workers, HHS Committee Told
This article from Beckers Hospital Review covers the National Vaccine Advisory Committee’s recent panel, where it was announced that distribution of vaccines to front-line health care workers may not be the most ethical option. As vaccine quantity will be limited, other high-risk populations may need to be given priority.

(09/22/20) With Limited COVID-19 Vaccine Doses, Who Would Get Them First?
As vaccine production continues, conversations about establishing priority for distribution are leading to questions about who can be considered a front-line health worker. With an expected limited initial supply of the vaccine, answering these questions is essential to protecting the health care system.

(09/17/20) The First Look at the US Government’s COVID-19 Vaccine ‘Playbook’
This article introduces the government’s plan for COVID-19 vaccine rollout. The plan includes multiple phases for who will be eligible to receive the vaccine, with healthcare workers, the elderly and high risk, and essential workers taking top priority.

(09/15/20) Promoting Equitable Access to COVID-19 Vaccines—the Role of Medicaid
A blog post featured in Health Affairs covering the need to ensure medical clinics create dedicated processes, spaces, and staff to administer COVID-19 vaccines. Ensuring Medicaid provides fair reimbursement could also help ensure widespread adoption by providers and increase effectiveness of vaccination promotion.

(09/14/20) The Key to Efficient Vaccine Distribution: Start Preparing Early
An opinion piece published in STAT suggesting some strategic moves to prepare for the vaccine distribution needed to meet the needs of the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors suggest guidance and coordination from federal, state, and local public health officials and ensuring priority is given to highest risk individuals, including the elderly, frontline health care providers, and first responders.

(09/09/20) How Black Doctors Are Answering the Call to Reform Medical Education — and Bringing COVID-19 Vaccine Trials to Communities of Color
An article discussing the way the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Black communities and patients, and how Black doctors and medical students are increasingly calling for reforms to improve the quality of medical education regarding both Black patients and physicians.

(07/08/20) LTC Residents and Workers Should Get Top Priority for COVID-19 Vaccine: AHCA
The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living wrote a letter to the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, requesting that those working in long-term care facilities and their patients be given first priority to any COVID-19 vaccine, as they treat the most vulnerable populations to the disease.