MD Gov. issues nursing home and hospital employee vaccine mandate
MARYLAND –
Wednesday Maryland’s top official is calling out nursing homes and hospitals in the state, issuing new mandates when it comes to covid-19 vaccinations. With over 79 percent of adults vaccinated, Governor Larry Hogan says, not enough of them are working inside maryland’s healthcare facilities.
Governor Hogan says, “Not every hospital has taken action and some continue to have far too many unvaccinated healthcare workers needlessly exposing their vulnerable patients in hospitals to covid-19 and the delta variant. Eight full months after vaccines have been available to healthcare workers this is simply not acceptable.”
Effective immediately all nursing home and hospital employees will be required to show proof of vaccination. If you are unable to do so, you will have to submit to regular ongoing screening and testing.
Wednesday the Governor also announced they would be implementing tougher enforcement actions for those who don’t comply with state protocols or those who fail to report their vaccination data. They will be doubling fines and stepping up civil penalties.
Two lower shore nursing homes were also highlighted as being among the lowest rates for vaccinated employees. One Anchorage healthcare center in Salisbury, the other Alice Byrd Tawes nursing home in Crisfield. However TidalHealth is refuting the numbers at Tawes, stating that the Governor’s numbers are outdated. Officials say while they say they don’t regularly release vaccination rates, they say the number is significantly higher than the 52 percent reported Wednesday and additional members are already getting vaccinated.
The Governor did have a few positive things to say too, announcing Maryland is on track to vaccinate 80 percent of all adults by Labor Day.
Governor Hogan says, “As one of the nation’s most vaccinated states, both our case rate and our positivity rate are among the lowest in America and we are much better prepared to withstand the significant summer surge of the delta variant.”
The Governor also spoke about the Biden’s adminstration’s latest guidance on vaccine booster shots. While boosters are currently available for those who are immunocompromised, it was announced earlier that they will be more widely available by the end of September. But Governor Hogan is urging the President to begin that much sooner, especially for seniors and nursing home residents, which he wants to see get access immediately.
Governor Hogan also urging officials to expedite the availability of the vaccine for those ages five to 11, as this age groups heads back to school.
