Dr. Zeke Emanuel Organizes Statement Signed By Nearly 60 Medical Groups Calling for Mandatory Vaccinations for all Health Care Workers

Nearly 60 medical groups have released a joint statement, organized by our department's Dr. Zeke Emanuel, calling for a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all health care and long-term care workers.

"This is the logical fulfillment of the ethical commitment of all health care workers to put patients as well as residents of long-term care facilities first and take all steps necessary to ensure their health and well-being," the statement reads.

"Because of highly contagious variants, including the Delta variant, and significant numbers of unvaccinated people, COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths are once again rising throughout the United States.1 Vaccination is the primary way to put the pandemic behind us and avoid the return of stringent public health measures.

Unfortunately, many health care and long-term care personnel remain unvaccinated. As we move towards full FDA approval of the currently available vaccines, all health care workers should get vaccinated for their own health, and to protect their colleagues, families, residents of long-term care facilities and patients. This is especially necessary to protect those who are vulnerable, including unvaccinated children and the immunocompromised.  Indeed, this is why many health care and long-term care organizations already require vaccinations for influenza, hepatitis B, and pertussis.

We call for all health care and long-term care employers to require their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19."

This news was covered by several media outlets, including:

‘A tipping point’: Government officials, health groups move to require coronavirus vaccines for workers
The Washington Post

Should your doctor be vaccinated? Frontline workers face calls for mandatory inoculation
PBS Newshour

Medical groups call for mandatory vaccination of US health care workers
The New York Times