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U.S. NEWS Thursday 27 January 2022
Vaccine mandate to kick in for first wave of health workers
By DAVID A. LIEB and dueling federal and state
HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH vaccination policies.
Associated Press Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Re-
Health care workers in publican who has waged
about half the states face a legal campaign against
a Thursday deadline to get coronavirus mandates, last
their first dose of the CO- year signed legislation that
VID-19 vaccine under a forces businesses with vac-
Biden administration man- cine requirements to let
date that will be rolled out workers opt out for medical
across the rest of the coun- reasons, religious beliefs,
try in the coming weeks. immunity from a previous
While the requirement is infection, regular testing
welcomed by some, others or an agreement to wear
fear it will worsen already protective gear. Businesses
serious staff shortages if that fail to comply can be
employees quit rather than fined $10,000 to $50,000 per
comply. violation. Asked if the state
“We would like to see staff would pursue fines against
vaccinated. We think that hospitals that enforce
it’s the safest option for resi- the federal mandate, a
dents, which is our biggest spokeswoman for the Flori-
concern,” said Marjorie da attorney general said all
Moore, executive director Cristina Licup receives her COVID-19 booster shot where she works at the Hebrew Home at employee complaints “will
of VOYCE, a St. Louis Coun- Riverdale in New York, Monday, Sept. 27, 2021. Associated Press be thoroughly reviewed by
ty, Missouri, nonprofit that our office.”
works on behalf of nursing putting record numbers of It is taking effect first in ju- three of the roughly 180 Some states already have
home residents. “But not people in the hospital with risdictions that didn’t chal- employees are quitting, their own vaccine require-
having staff is also a really COVID-19 while sickening lenge the requirement in and several others have ments for health care
big concern, because the many health workers. court. Those include some sought exemptions from workers. In California, for
neglect that happens as a Nationwide, about 81% of of the biggest states, with the vaccine mandate, example, they have been
result of that is severe and nursing home staff mem- some of the largest popu- said hospital spokeswoman required to be fully vacci-
very scary.” bers already were fully vac- lations of senior citizens, Janice Reese. nated since Sept. 30 and
The mandate affects a cinated as of earlier this among them: California, “We are very fortunate that must get a booster b y Feb.
wide swath of the health month, ranging from a high Florida, New York and that is all we are losing,” 1.
care industry, covering of 98% in Rhode Island to a Pennsylvania. she said, noting that the The federal mandate is
doctors, nurses, techni- low of 67% in Missouri, ac- “There absolutely have hospital was not in favor of “better late than never,”
cians, aides and even vol- cording to the federal Cen- been employee resigna- the mandate. “We didn’t said Sal Rosselli, president
unteers at hospitals, nursing ters for Medicare & Medic- tions because of vaccina- feel like it was our place to of the National Union of
homes, home-health agen- aid Services. The data is un- tion requirements,” said actually try to tell a person Healthcare Workers, which
cies and other providers clear about the vaccina- Catherine Barbieri, a Phila- what they had to do.” represents about 15,000
that participate in the fed- tion levels in hospitals and delphia attorney who rep- Reese said the vaccine re- people in California. “But
eral Medicare or Medicaid other health care sites. resents health care provid- quirement could also make if it happened sooner,
programs. The mandate ultimately will ers. But “I think it’s relatively it more difficult for the hos- we wouldn’t have gone
It comes as many places cover 10.4 million health small.” pital to fill vacancies. through the surge, and a
are stretched thin by the care workers at 76,000 fa- At Wilson Medical Center In Florida, medical centers lot more people would be
omicron surge, which is cilities. in rural Neodesha, Kansas, find themselves between alive today.”q
Pelosi to seek reelection with
Democratic majority at risk
By MICHAEL R. BLOOD By announcing she would White House typically loses
AP Political Writer seek a 19th term, Pelosi seats in Congress in mid-
LOS ANGELES (AP) — House avoids becoming a lame term elections, and Demo-
Speaker Nancy Pelosi an- duck in a year when Dem- crats are defending both
nounced Tuesday she will ocrats are clinging to a chambers at a time when
seek reelection, ending fragile majority in the House President Joe Biden’s ap-
speculation that she would and the party is under pres- proval rating has been slip-
retire as Democrats face sure to raise vast sums of ping. “Our democracy is
the threat of losing con- money to defend control at risk because the assault
trol of Congress in the 2022 of Congress. Her decision on the truth, assault on the
midterms. “While we have to remain in the chamber U.S. Capitol and the state- Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of Calif., speaks during her
made progress, much follows announcements by by-state assault on voting weekly press conference, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022 at the Capitol
more needs to be done 29 House Democrats that rights,” she added. in Washington.
to improve people’s lives,” they won’t seek reelection In the video, Pelosi never Associated Press
the 81-year-old Pelosi said this year, compared to 13 addresses if she intends to crat made history 15 years Earlier this month in an in-
in an online video. “This Republicans as the GOP seek another term as the ago when she became the terview with The Associat-
election is crucial. Noth- looks toward taking back House’s Democratic lead- first female speaker of the ed Press, Pelosi only hinted
ing less is at stake than our the House. er, if reelected. House. She has served in at another run, saying she
democracy,” she added. The party that controls the The San Francisco Demo- Congress since 1987. “may” seek reelection. q