The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has become the second branch of the U.S. government to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for employees. Last Thursday, HHS said it would require 25,000 frontline healthcare workers to get vaccinated.
Among those who will be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine are staff at the Indian Health Service and the National Institutes of Health who serve in federally operated clinics and research facilities or might come into contact with patients. The list of workers who must get shots include employees, contractors, trainees and volunteers.
“Our number one goal is the health and safety of the American public, including our federal workforce. And vaccines are the best tool we have to protect people from COVID-19, prevent the spread of the Delta variant, and save lives,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said. “As President Biden has said, we have to do all we can to increase vaccinations to keep more people safe. Instructing our HHS health care workforce to get vaccinated will protect our federal workers and the patients and people they serve.”
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy will also immediately require members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps to be vaccinated as part of medical readiness procedures.
The Department of Defense became the first government branch to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations. The Pentagon said troops will need to be fully vaccinated by mid-September.
