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Vaccine requirements for healthcare workers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2021-2022

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Responses by state


Between September 2021 and March 2022, 15 states issued a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for healthcare workers. In 13 of those states, the governor was a Democrat. A Republican was governor in two of those states. Of the 15 states that instituted healthcare worker vaccine requirements, only Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey allowed healthcare workers to undergo regular COVID-19 testing in lieu of a getting a vaccine. Four states—California, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New Mexico—required healthcare workers to get booster shots.

This page was updated weekly on Tuesdays between September 2021 and December 2023.

On November 4, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an emergency regulation requiring healthcare workers at facilities that participate in Medicare and Medicaid to get at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by December 6, 2021. The regulation required those healthcare workers to be fully vaccinated no later than January 4, 2022.[1] On Nov. 30, in response to a lawsuit filed by Louisiana and several other states, U.S. District Court Judge Terry A. Doughty issued an injunction against the requirement while the court heard oral arguments.[2] On December 22, 2021, the United States Supreme Court announced it would hear oral arguments for and against the vaccine mandate on January 7, 2022.[3] On January 13, the court blocked the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) COVID-19 vaccination-or-test mandate for business with more than 100 employees mandate but allowed enforcement of OSHA’s COVID–19 Vaccination and Testing mandate to continue while litigation continued in lower courts.[4] Click here to read more about federal government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, and click here to read about multistate lawsuits related to the federal government's COVID-19 responses.

Ballotpedia’s coverage of COVID-19 included how federal, state, and local governments responded to the pandemic, and how those responses influenced election rules and operations, political campaigns, the economy, schools, and more.

Vaccine requirements for healthcare workers by state

Between 2021 and 2022, a total of 15 states mandated that healthcare workers get a COVID-19 vaccine. Thirteen of those states had a Democratic governor. Maryland and Massachusetts had Republican governors. In Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey, healthcare workers had the option of choosing between getting a COVID-19 and submitting to regular COVID-19 testing.


The following table shows the states that require healthcare workers to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

States with healthcare worker COVID-19 vaccine requirements
State Governor party affiliation Deadline to receive first shot Deadline to receive second shot (Pfizer or Moderna) COVID-19 testing alternative? Policy
California D N/A September 30, 2021 No On August 5, 2021, California Department of Public Health Director Tomás J. Aragón issued an order requiring all healthcare workers to get a COVID-19 vaccine. All workers were required to have received either the first dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines by September 30, 2021.[5]
Colorado D September 30, 2021 October 31, 2021 No On August 31, 2021, the Colorado Board of Health voted to require that healthcare workers at state-licensed facilities get a COVID-19 vaccine. The measure required healthcare workers to have gotten the first dose of a vaccine by September 30, 2021.[6]
Connecticut D September 27, 2021 September 27, 2021 (or appointment for second dose) No On August 19, 2021, Gov. Ned Lamont (D) issued an order requiring employees at state hospitals and nursing homes to get a COVID-19 vaccine.[7]
Delaware D N/A September 30, 2021 Yes On August 12, Gov. John Carney (D) announced that healthcare workers would be required to provide proof of vaccination or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing beginning September 30.[8]
Illinois D September 5, 2021 Second dose required 30 days after the first No On August 26, 2021, Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) announced that healthcare workers would be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing. He said the first dose of a vaccine must be received by September 5.[9]
Maine D N/A October 1, 2021[10] No On August 12, 2021, Gov. Janet Mills (D) announced that healthcare workers would be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine by October 1, 2021.[11] On September 2, Mills said that while healthcare workers would be required to get vaccinated by October 1, the state would only begin enforcing the mandate on October 29.[12]
Maryland R September 1, 2021 N/A (workers required to complete both shots) Yes On August 5, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced that healthcare workers at hospitals and nursing homes would be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine or undergo weekly testing. Employees who opted not to get a vaccine would be required to wear face masks while indoors.[13]
Massachusetts R N/A October 31, 2021 No On September 8, the Public Health Council required home care workers and healthcare workers at hospice facilities and assisted living facilities to get a COVID-19 vaccine.[14]
Nevada D N/A November 1, 2021 No On September 14, Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) announced that healthcare workers in state-operated healthcare facilities or state-operated detention facilities would be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine. He said the order, issued by the Nevada State Board of Health (BOH), would be in effect for 120 days unless made permanent.[15]
New Jersey D N/A September 7, 2021 Yes On August 8, Gov. Phil Murphy (D) issued an order requiring healthcare workers in most medical settings and in high-risk congregate facilities, including state Veterans homes, to get a COVID-19 vaccine by September 7 or undergo weekly or biweekly COVID-19 testing.[16]
New Mexico D August 27, 2021 Within 40 days of receiving the first shot No On August 17, 2021, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) announced that all hospital and congregate care healthcare workers would be required to get their first COVID-19 vaccine by August 27. Any followup shot would need to be received no later than 40 days past the date of the first shot.[17]
New York D September 27, 2021 N/A No On August 16, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced that all healthcare workers, including those in hospitals and long-term care facilities, would be required to get the first dose a COVID-19 vaccine by September 27.[18]
Oregon D N/A October 18, 2021 No On August 19, Gov. Kate Brown (D) announced that healthcare workers would be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine by October 18.[19]
Rhode Island D N/A October 1, 2021 No On August 10, Gov. Dan McKee (D) announced that healthcare workers at state-licensed facilities and nursing homes would be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine by October 1.[20]
Washington D N/A October 18, 2021 No On August 9, Gov. Jay Inslee (D) announced that healthcare workers would be required to be fully vaccinated by October 18, 2021.[21]

Timeline

  • March 2, 2022: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) delayed the deadline for healthcare workers get a COVID-19 booster shot to April 11. The deadline had originally been scheduled for February 28.[22]
  • February 22, 2022: The California Department of Public Health updated its healthcare worker booster guidance to allow fully vaccinated healthcare workers who recently recovered from COVID-19 to delay getting a booster shot by 90 days.[23]
  • February 18, 2022: The New York Department of Health dropped the booster requirement for healthcare workers. The deadline had been February 21.[24]
  • January 31, 2022: The California Department of Public Health delayed the requirement that healthcare workers get a COVID-19 vaccine to March 1. The deadline had originally been February 1.[25]
  • January 19, 2022: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) issued an order requiring healthcare workers to get a COVID-19 vaccine no later than February 28.[26]
  • January 11, 2022: The New York Public Health and Health Planning Council approved Gov. Kathy Hochul's (D) order requiring healthcare workers to get a COVID-19 booster shot.[27]
  • January 6, 2022: The Connecticut Hospital Association announced healthcare workers would be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine.[28]
  • January 6, 2022: Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) issued an order requiring healthcare workers at state hospitals and all long-term care facilities to get a COVID-19 booster shot by February 11.[29]
  • December 21, 2021: California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced that healthcare workers would be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot no later than February 1, 2022, if more than six months had passed since their last shot.[30]
  • December 2, 2021: New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) announced healthcare workers would be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot by January 17, 2022, if more than six months had passed since getting their last shot. Workers who were not six months out from their last shot were required to get the booster within four weeks of becoming eligible.[31]
  • October 12, 2021: United States District Court for the Northern District of New York David Hurd extended his September 14 order allowing healthcare workers in New York to apply for a religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine requirement. New York's healthcare employee vaccine requirement, which took effect September 27, did not allow healthcare workers to avoid taking the vaccine on religious grounds.[32][33]
  • September 14, 2021: Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) announced that healthcare workers in state-operated healthcare facilities or state-operated detention facilities would be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine. He said the order, issued by the Nevada State Board of Health (BOH), would be in effect for 120 days unless made permanent.[34]
  • September 8, 2021: The Massachusetts Public Health Council voted to require home care workers and healthcare workers at hospice facilities and assisted living facilities to get a COVID-19 vaccine.[35]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, "Biden-Harris Administration Issues Emergency Regulation Requiring COVID-19 Vaccination for Health Care Workers," November 4, 2021
  2. ↑ New York Times, "A federal judge blocks Biden’s vaccine mandate for U.S. health workers," November 30, 2021
  3. ↑ The Hill, "Supreme Court to hear challenges to vaccine mandates in early January," January 22, 2021
  4. ↑ Politico, "SCOTUS blocks Biden’s workplace vaccine rule," January 13, 2022
  5. ↑ California Department of Public Health, "​State Public Health Officer Order of August 5, 2021," August 5, 2021
  6. ↑ The Hill, "Colorado requiring vaccinations for health care workers," August 31, 2021
  7. ↑ State of Connecticut Ned Lamont, "Executive Order No. 13G," accessed September 28, 2021
  8. ↑ Delaware.gov, "COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Updates for Long-Term Care Facilities, Health Care Facilities, and State Employees," August 12, 2021
  9. ↑ Illinois.gov, "Governor Pritzker Announces COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement for Healthcare Workers, Pre-K-12 Teachers and Staff, Higher Education Personnel and Students to Slow Spread of Delta Variant," August 26, 2021
  10. ↑ On September 2, the Mills administration said it would begin enforcing the mandate October 29, 2021
  11. ↑ Office of Governor Janet T. Mills, "Mills Administration Requires Health Care Workers To Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 By October 1," August 12, 2021
  12. ↑ Office of Governor Janet T. Mills, "Mills Administration Provides More Time for Health Care Workers to Meet COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement," September 2, 2021
  13. ↑ The Office of Governor Larry Hogan, "Governor Hogan Announces New Vaccination Protocols for State Employees," August 5, 2021
  14. ↑ The Patriot Ledger, "Mass. health council approves caregiver vaccine mandate expansion," September 8, 2021
  15. ↑ Office of Governor Steve Sisolak, "Governor Sisolak signs emergency regulation related to COVID-19 vaccine," September 14, 2021
  16. ↑ Governor Phil Murphy, "Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order Instituting Vaccination or Testing Requirement for Workers in Health Care Facilities and High-Risk Congregate Settings," August 6, 2021
  17. ↑ Office of Michelle Lujan Grisham, "New Mexico to re-implement indoor mask mandate; vaccinations required in hospitals, congregate settings," August 17, 2021
  18. ↑ New York State, "Governor Cuomo Announces COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate for Healthcare Workers," August 16, 2021
  19. ↑ OPB, "Oregon to require health workers, school staff be vaccinated," August 19, 2021
  20. ↑ WPRI, "RI health care, nursing home workers required to get vaccinated by Oct. 1 as cases, hospitalizations spike," August 10, 2021
  21. ↑ Medium, "Inslee announces vaccination requirement for most state employees, private health care and long-term care workers," August 9, 2021
  22. ↑ State of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, "Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order Updating and Clarifying COVID-19 Vaccination Deadlines for Covered Workers at Health Care Facilities and High-Risk Congregate Settings," March 2, 2022
  23. ↑ California Department of Public Health, "Health Care Worker Vaccine Requirement," accessed March 13, 2022
  24. ↑ New York State Department of Health, "New York State Department of Health Highlights Healthcare Workforce Booster Progress and Announces Additional Efforts To Bring Boosters Directly To Healthcare Workers," February 18, 2022
  25. ↑ California Medical Association, "California health care workers given one more month to get booster shots," January 31, 2022
  26. ↑ State of New Jersey Department of Health, "Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order Strengthening COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for Workers in Health Care and Congregate Settings and Requiring COVID-19 Booster Doses," January 19, 2022
  27. ↑ New York Post, "New York state health council approves Hochul booster mandate for health care workers," January 11, 2022
  28. ↑ Becker's Hospital Review, "Connecticut to mandate COVID-19 boosters for hospital, nursing home workers," January 7, 2022
  29. ↑ The Office of Governor Ned Lamont, "Governor Lamont Signs Orders Requiring All Long-Term Care Facility and State Hospital Employees To Receive COVID-19 Boosters," January 6, 2022
  30. ↑ U.S. News & World Report, "California Sets Feb. 1 Deadline for Health Worker Boosters," December 22, 2021
  31. ↑ KRQE, "New Mexico to require COVID-19 booster shot for some workers," December 2, 2021
  32. ↑ LeadingAge New York, "Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks State Vaccine Mandate for Health Care Workers Seeking Religious Exemptions," accessed October 12, 2021
  33. ↑ Spectrum News 1, "Judge sides with NY health care workers seeking religious exemption to COVID vaccination mandates," October 12, 2021
  34. ↑ Office of Governor Steve Sisolak, "Governor Sisolak signs emergency regulation related to COVID-19 vaccine," September 14, 2021
  35. ↑ The Patriot Ledger, "Mass. health council approves caregiver vaccine mandate expansion," September 8, 2021
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