Mayo Clinic Joins Major Healthcare Groups Calling for Mandatory Vaccines for Staff

JACKSONVILLE, Florida – With the number of COVID-19 cases increasing and the delta variant spreading rapidly, the Mayo Clinic and dozens of other companies and healthcare professional organizations called on all healthcare employers on Monday to demand that their employees be vaccinated against COVID-19.

More than 50 groups – including the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the National Association for Home Care and Hospice and the Mayo Clinic – representing millions of workers said mandatory health vaccinations for healthcare workers would protect the safety of patients and residents of long-term care facilities and make the healthcare industry a leader in COVID-19 immunization, while like cases, hospitalizations and deaths are on the rise again in the United States.

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“The health and safety of American workers, families, communities and the nation depend on it,” the joint statement reads.

DOCUMENT: In support of COVID-19 vaccination mandates

The Mayo Clinic released a statement saying it was proud that the “vast majority” of its staff had been vaccinated, the rest would need to be fully vaccinated or complete a “declination process” by September 17. Those who refuse must complete an educational module and wear masks at all times on the Mayo campus.

“We are grateful for the high percentage of our staff who were vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to this mandatory program, including over 95% of our physicians,” said Kevin Punsky, communications manager for Mayo.

News4Jax is asking other major medical centers in Northeast Florida if they will join the call for mandatory vaccinations for employees. As of Monday morning, 52% of UF Health Jacksonville staff were vaccinated and 53% of Baptist Health workers were vaccinated. Memorial Hospital and Orange Park Medical Center would not share a percentage, but said their rate was above the state (48%) and national (49%) averages for those fully vaccinated.

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We are awaiting the latest information from other hospitals in the region.

The AARP reported that only 42% of state nursing home workers were fully immunized as of June 20 – well behind the national average of 56% and the second-lowest rate in the country.

The groups said the approval of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for healthcare workers aims to protect the safety of patients and residents of long-term care facilities and to make the healthcare sector a leader in COVID-19 vaccination as well as cases, hospitalizations and deaths. are on the rise again across the United States.

“With over 300 million doses administered in the United States and nearly 4 billion doses administered worldwide, we know that vaccines are safe and very effective,” said Dr. Susan Bailey, former president of the American Medical Association. “Increasing vaccinations among healthcare workers will not only reduce the spread of COVID-19, but will also reduce the harmful toll of this virus among healthcare workers and those we strive to serve. “

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Large medical companies and medical organizations calling for mandatory vaccines represent millions of workers in all sectors of health and long-term care – from doctors and nurses to pharmacists and medical assistants, public health workers and epidemiologists to long-term care, home care and palliative care. .

“Healthcare workers have an ethical duty to put the health and well-being of patients first, and getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is an integral part of that duty,” said Dr Ezekiel Emanuel, vice -rector of Global Initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania, which organized the declaration. “Employer immunization mandates are effective and life-saving, and they are particularly appropriate in healthcare and long-term care settings. No patient should have to worry about being infected by a healthcare provider, and no provider should put their patient at risk.