Doctors, nurses & other health groups call for mandatory coronavirus vaccinations for health workers
Source: Washington Post
Medical groups representing millions of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health workers on Monday called for mandatory vaccinations of all U.S. health personnel against the coronavirus, framing the move as a moral imperative as new infections mount sharply. “We call for all health care and long-term care employers to require their employees to be vaccinated against covid-19,” the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association and 55 other groups wrote in a joint statement shared with The Washington Post. “The health and safety of U.S. workers, families, communities, and the nation depends on it.”
The statement — issued by many groups calling for a mandate for the first time — represents an increasingly tough stance by the medical and public health establishment amid the sluggish pace of national vaccinations. It comes as new cases rip through the nation, driven by the hyper-transmissible delta variant. Confirmed coronavirus infections have nearly quadrupled during July, from about 13,000 cases per day at the start of the month to more than 50,000 now, according to The Post’s tracking. Hospital leaders in states such as Alabama, Florida and Missouri have implored holdouts to get vaccinated, citing data that the shots prevent hospitalizations and even death.
But many workers in the health field remain unvaccinated, despite having priority access to coronavirus vaccines, which first became available in December. More than 38 percent of nursing home staff were not fully vaccinated as of July 11, despite caring for patients at elevated risk from the coronavirus, according to data collected by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and analyzed by LeadingAge, which represents nonprofit nursing homes and other providers of elder care. An analysis by WebMD and Medscape Medical News estimated that about 25 percent of hospital workers who had contact with patients had not been vaccinated by the end of May.
Health leaders said that the slowed pace of vaccinations, coupled with the threat of the delta variant, compelled them to act. “We feel that it’s important to sign our name onto this,” said Rachel Villanueva, an OB/GYN and the president of the National Medical Association, which represents more than 50,000 Black physicians and is calling for a vaccination mandate for the first time. Villanueva added that new coronavirus cases could disproportionately affect front-line workers — many of whom are African American — and communities of color that continue to lag behind Whites on vaccination rates. “We want to continue to dispel myths, educate, increase confidence and increase vaccination rates in our communities,” she said.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/07/26/mandatory-vaccinations-urged-health-workers/
Full headline: Doctors, nurses and other health groups call for mandatory coronavirus vaccinations for health workers
This is something I know I and some others have been posting about - you still have a significant number of those who work in the healthcare field as well as first responders (police, fire, EMS) who are NOT vaccinated - some claiming because the vaccine is only out there because of an "EUA" and is supposedly "not fully approved".
In reality and in a technical sense, the only significant difference between getting an EUA and "full" approval (outside of having additional data included on the record) is the fact that under a full approval, a vaccine maker can now "brand" their product and market/sell it to "the public" (i.e., hospitals and doctors).
= new reply since forum marked as read
have been given equal weight in the media, to common sense, reasoned thought, and science.
And the reporters throw up their hands and proclaim - "Well we're just reporting what they say". But their problem is "reporting" that nonsense AT ALL.
I know there are people who will say that "sunlight is the best disinfectant". But in this case, there is some crap that truly doesn't need to see the light of day because that is how the infection is spread. What was once anaerobic and controlled, becomes aerobic and explodes when given that oxygen. 
Probably from this - Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act (P.L. 107-188). I forgot all about that one although I know it was originally prompted by the anthrax attacks but when it was finally passed, a whole pile of other things were loaded into it.
I suppose someone could try to shoe-horn something in that references that law.
Anyone working in the federal government (like myself) during and after 9/11, watched our worlds turn upside down.
because they were the most exposed and many, to this day, have refused.
There have been many articles about the RW loons and POC having "hesitancy", but the media rarely will focus on the very people - those on the "frontline" - the healthcare workers, the police, fire, and EMS personnel, who ALSO refuse to get the vaccine.
Some data was published and discussed here (back in January) - https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210106/Low-acceptance-of-COVID-19-vaccine-among-healthcare-workers-in-USA.aspx
Dr. Liji Thomas, MD Jan 6 2021
As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to progress, the first vaccines have been rolled out, and several countries are planning to complete the first round of universal immunization within the first quarter of this year. However, vaccine uptake is a concern that has taken center stage in the recent past, with a flood of misinformation and doubts about the safety and utility of the vaccine spreading far and wide.
A recent preprint research paper published on the medRxiv* server in January 2021 reports that vaccine acceptance is low even among healthcare workers (HCWs) in the USA. This is a significant issue as this segment of society is typically entrusted with the task of communicating reliable information about such preventive measures to their patients, which is associated with greater compliance with vaccination campaigns and schedules. Moreover, their participation in these programs models adherence to the community at large.
Study details
The current study used a cross-sectional design based on an online questionnaire. All participants were above 18 years of age and were working in a healthcare facility of some kind. HCWs were classified into four groups, namely, direct medical provider (DMP), Direct patient care provider (DPCP), Advanced practice providers, and administrative staff who have little direct patient contact.
HCWs were asked about their perception of personal risk of acquiring COVID-19 and whether they had taken care of COVID-19 patients. Moreover, they were asked if they were willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine once available. Possible reasons for not accepting the vaccine were explored as well. The researchers received approximately 3,500 responses, with over half being below the age of 40 years. Three in four were female, and over 80% were white. Again, 80% had taken a Bachelor’s or higher degree, 44% said they were Democrats, and about 60% denied any comorbidities.
(snip)
So based on the above, it didn't seem like they were "anti-vax", just "anti-COVID-19 vaccine" due to mistrust and what they perceived as a "rushed process".
I posted the below in another thread (something that pertained for here in the Philly metro area as of this past April) - https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2021/04/19/covid-in-pennsylvania-nearly-half-of-nursing-home-workers-in-pennsylvania-have-declined-covid-19-vaccine-report-shows/
and I worked for the feds (now retired) so... 
