WH supports call for COVID vaccine mandate for U.S. medical staff
With the highly transmissible Delta variant leading to a surge in COVID-19 cases, the U.S. government is also seeking to jump-start its vaccination drive, with COVID-19 cases rising especially in areas with relatively low vaccination rates.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on Monday mandated that its doctors and other medical staff get COVID-19 vaccines, becoming the first federal agency to impose such a requirement at a time of entrenched vaccine reluctance by some Americans.
"It's the best way to keep Veterans safe, especially as the Delta variant spreads across the country," Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough said in a statement.
The VA comprises the largest U.S. healthcare system, employing more than 367,200 full-time healthcare professionals and support staff at 1,293 facilities, according to its website. The VA's vaccination mandate applies to doctors, dentists, registered nurses and physician assistants, among others.
The agency said these employees will have eight weeks to become fully vaccinated. It said four unvaccinated VA employees already have died from COVID-19.
California and New York City announced on Monday their own mandates that government workers get vaccinated against COVID-19 or be regularly tested for the virus.
