HHS mandates COVID-19 vaccines for its health care workforce

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra this week announced the agency will require the 25,000 members of its health care workforce to be vaccinated against COVID-19. HHS said this group includes employees, contractors, trainees, and volunteers whose duties put them in contact or potential contact with patients at an HHS medical or clinical research facility. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, M.D., will also require members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps to be vaccinated, effective immediately, as part of the Corps’ medical readiness procedures. HHS is the latest department within the Biden-Harris Administration to implement vaccine requirements, following the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. (HHS news release, 8/12/21)