we all want our lives to get back to normal and fully vaccinated workplaces will will make that happen more quickly and more successfully. We all know that in our gut with incentives and mandates we can make a huge difference and save a lot of lives. Every federal government employee will be asked to attest to their vaccination status. Anyone who does not a test or it's not vaccinated will be required to mask no matter where they were test one or two times a week to see if they acquired covid socially distance and generally will not be allowed to travel for work. Likewise today, directing my administration and take steps to apply similar standards to all federal contractors. If you want to do business with the federal government, get your workers vaccinated since many vaccinations are required for active duty military. Today, I'm asking the Defense Department to look into how and when they will add COVID-19 to the list of vaccinations. Armed forces must get our men and women in uniform Who protect this country from grave threats. Should be protected as much as possible from getting COVID-19. I think this is particularly important because our troops serving places throughout the world, many where vaccination rates are low and diseases prevalent. It's an american blessing that we have vaccines for each and every american. We've made it our first and top priority to have available vaccines for every eligible american. And that's never gonna change as long as I'm here. It's a shame it was just such a shame to squander that blessing. This is american tragedy. People are dying and will die. Who don't have to die. If you're out there unvaccinated, you don't have to die. Look, this is not about red states and blue states. It's literally about life and death. It's about life and death.
HHS will require COVID-19 vaccinations for its health care workforce
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Updated: 9:35 AM CDT Aug 12, 2021
COVID-19 vaccinations will be required for the more than 25,000 health care staff and volunteers working at the Department of Health and Human Services, Secretary Xavier Becerra announced Thursday."Staff at the Indian Health Service (IHS) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) who serve in federally-operated health care and clinical research facilities and interact with, or have the potential to come into contact with, patients will be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine," Becerra said in a statement.The secretary said the vaccination requirement will apply to "employees, contractors, trainees, and volunteers whose duties put them in contact or potential contact with patients at an HHS medical or clinical research facility."An HHS official said the requirement is expected to go into effect by the end of September.In addition, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy announced Thursday that members of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps must also be vaccinated. Those public health officials are included in the 25,000 figure, an HHS official said.The announcements add to a growing list of vaccine requirements instituted by various federal departments and agencies for their employees in recent days. On Monday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he was moving to have all active-duty members of the U.S. military vaccinated against the virus, and last month, President Joe Biden announced that all federal employees must attest to being vaccinated against COVID-19 or face strict protocols.The statement from HHS noted that "IHS, NIH and the Commissioned Corps already require such personnel to receive the seasonal influenza vaccine and other routine vaccinations, with processes for medical and religious exemptions.""As President Biden has said, we are looking at every way we can to increase vaccinations to keep more people safe, and requiring our HHS health care workforce to get vaccinated will protect our federal workers, as well as the patients and people they serve," Becerra said.The Department of Veterans Affairs will also expand its vaccine mandate for health care workers at Veterans Health Administration facilities on Friday, requiring most employees, volunteers and contractors at those facilities to be vaccinated, according to a release from the department. The mandate previously applied to physicians working at those facilities.With the expanded mandate, that list grows to include workers such as psychologists, pharmacists, social workers, nursing assistants, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, peer specialists, medical support assistants, engineers, housekeepers and other clinical, administrative and infrastructure support employees who come into contact with VA patients and health care workers, according to the department.
COVID-19 vaccinations will be required for the more than 25,000 health care staff and volunteers working at the Department of Health and Human Services, Secretary Xavier Becerra announced Thursday.
"Staff at the Indian Health Service (IHS) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) who serve in federally-operated health care and clinical research facilities and interact with, or have the potential to come into contact with, patients will be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine," Becerra said in a statement.
The secretary said the vaccination requirement will apply to "employees, contractors, trainees, and volunteers whose duties put them in contact or potential contact with patients at an HHS medical or clinical research facility."
An HHS official said the requirement is expected to go into effect by the end of September.
In addition, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy announced Thursday that members of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps must also be vaccinated. Those public health officials are included in the 25,000 figure, an HHS official said.
The announcements add to a growing list of vaccine requirements instituted by various federal departments and agencies for their employees in recent days. On Monday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he was moving to have all active-duty members of the U.S. military vaccinated against the virus, and last month, President Joe Biden announced that all federal employees must attest to being vaccinated against COVID-19 or face strict protocols.
The statement from HHS noted that "IHS, NIH and the Commissioned Corps already require such personnel to receive the seasonal influenza vaccine and other routine vaccinations, with processes for medical and religious exemptions."
"As President Biden has said, we are looking at every way we can to increase vaccinations to keep more people safe, and requiring our HHS health care workforce to get vaccinated will protect our federal workers, as well as the patients and people they serve," Becerra said.
The Department of Veterans Affairs will also expand its vaccine mandate for health care workers at Veterans Health Administration facilities on Friday, requiring most employees, volunteers and contractors at those facilities to be vaccinated, according to a release from the department. The mandate previously applied to physicians working at those facilities.
With the expanded mandate, that list grows to include workers such as psychologists, pharmacists, social workers, nursing assistants, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, peer specialists, medical support assistants, engineers, housekeepers and other clinical, administrative and infrastructure support employees who come into contact with VA patients and health care workers, according to the department.
