California will require workers in health care facilities to have vaccinatedZoomen Sie dieses Bild toggle caption David Goldman/AP David Goldman/APCalifornia has implemented what it calls the "first-in-the-nation" requirement that all health care workers in California be vaccinated against COVID-19.According to the California Department of Public Health, the state is experiencing the fastest rise in coronavirus-related cases since the outbreak of the pandemic. The case rates are "increasing ninefold" in the past two months.The CDPH aims to protect vulnerable populations in the state and keep state-run health care facilities running smoothly. The order was made public on Thursday and went into effect that day. All employees in health care facilities, both paid and unpaid, have to be fully vaccinated by Sept. 30. This order applies to all who work or provide services in hospitals, nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals and clinics, as well as doctor's offices. It includes dialysis and residential substance abuse treatment centers, as well as at least half a dozen other facilities.Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, the Oregon governor, announced this week that she will implement a similar measure. Brown announced Wednesday that she has directed the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to develop new rules to put pressure on health care workers. They have two options: get vaccinated before Sept. 30, or undergo frequent testing for the virus," Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.According to the CDPH, California's residents aged 12 and older are 63% fully vaccinated, while 10% of them have received at least one dose. However, the state health officials are concerned about the rapid increase in the delta variant.The CDPH stated that "Increasing numbers health care workers are amongst the new positive cases" despite vaccines having been prioritized for them when they first became available. Recent outbreaks in healthcare settings were often traced back to staff who weren't vaccinated.Religious beliefs and qualified medical conditions are exceptionsAll facilities that require vaccination must verify the status and develop a plan to monitor who has been vaccinated and not. A COVID-19 vaccination record card, medical records or digital records that can be accessed by a QR code or documentation from another employer that requires vaccination are all examples of proof of vaccination. Facilities will assume that a person is not fully vaccinated if they can't show they have received the full dose.Two exceptions are religious beliefs and qualified medical conditions. Refusing to receive the vaccine on any of these grounds will not be allowed. The medical exemption does not require that staff disclose their medical condition. However, they must submit a written statement from a doctor attesting to their inability and how long they have been without the vaccine. Workers who are not vaccinated will need to have their COVID-19 tested at least twice per week. They must also wear a surgical mask or respirator at all times.California Gov. The order was announced by Gavin Newsom via Twitter on Thursday. Many people celebrated the news while others wondered what would have happened if enough employees refused to take the shot.After being given a similar ultimatum, more than 150 employees left or were fired at a Houston hospital. The nation already faces a crisis in health care workers. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation study, 3 out 10 medical professionals consider quitting their jobs due to pandemic burnout.Some states have already passed legislation to ban mandates and are preventing California from implementing its mandate.The United States is experiencing more than 90,000. New infections every day. This is the highest daily rate since February mid-February. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that there will be as many as 9,100 coronavirus-related deaths by August due to the rising incidence of delta.
