The American Hospital Association is calling for all hospital staff to be vaccinated as COVID cases surge again. And the state’s largest hospital system, says they plan to follow the recommendation of the American Hospital Association.
“We do anticipate moving to mandatory vaccines when the vaccine comes off EUA (Emergency Use Authorization.) Our hope is the EUA will be lifted shortly, I know that it’s being looked at very closely and expeditiously by the FDA,” said Ochsner Health CEO Warner Thomas.
Thomas said they are presently forgoing requiring mandatory vaccines for staff for fear of legal repercussions, but once full approval is authorized it will be enforced.
At this time none of the three COVID vaccines used in the U-S have received full approval from the FDA, and it’s unclear when they will be approved. Ochsner said 61% of staff are vaccinated and the new restrictions will be added soon for the remaining 39% of staff.
Thomas said, as for their patients, approximately 97% of admissions with COVID are unvaccinated.
“So really this is evolving to being a pandemic of the unvaccinated versus being a pandemic of the whole population,” said Thomas.
Ochsner, like other healthcare facilities in the state, has updated their visitation policies amid the surge in cases. Thomas said as COVID hospitalizations increase, it’s weighing on staff as the facility continues to stay open for non-COVID patients as well.
“But it is definitely a challenge for our clinical teams that are taking care of this fourth surge,” said Thomas.
Thomas said the decision to require staff to be fully vaccinated has been influenced by the hospital system’s high rate of unvaccinated patients being admitted with COVID complications.
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