COVID-19 vaccination of hospital workforce stalled mid-September

As of Sept. 15, 30% of U.S. hospital workers remained unvaccinated against COVID-19, according to an analysis by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccination rates rose sharply at the start of the year, reaching 60% in April, but uptake of vaccines slowed after that, rising only another 5% between April and August, and 5% again by Sept. 15. The study authors said vaccination mandates for staff at facilities participating in Medicare or Medicaid should substantially increase vaccination rates among health care workers before the end of the year. (Becker’s Hospital Review article, 11/19/21)