Clinics & Doctor Offices (including behavioral health, surgical), xiii. Vaccines continue to remain the most critical aspect of moving our communities out of this pandemic. Yes, unless they have an approved religious or reasonable medical accommodation. Additionally, given the current hospital census, even a moderate surge in cases and hospitalizations could materially impact California's health care delivery system within certain regions of the state. Can health care services still be delivered?). Eligibility timeframes are outlined in Table A of the, Fully vaccinated workers not yet eligible for boosters shall be in compliance no later than 15 days after the recommended timeframe per Table A of the. Michigan State drops COVID-19 vaccinations and booster requirements for California to require health care workers get COVID-19 booster shots [1]On January 25, 2022, this deadline for booster doses was updated from February 1, 2022, to March 1, 2022. There also is an FAQ document for the health care worker public health order. Deadlines will not be extended because a CDCR/CCHCS clinic did not offer the workers desired vaccine brand. b. access to online resources providing up to date information on COVID-19 science and research. Consequently, mandated testing of the small number of unvaccinated workers is not effectively preventing disease transmission as it did with the original COVID-19 virus and prior variants earlier in the pandemic. 12. Based on the emergence of Omicron, additional statewide facility-directed measures are necessary to ensure we maintain adequate staffing levels within our healthcare delivery system. PDF State of California--health and Human Services Agency Gavin Newsom By the World Health Organization (WHO), are listed at the All workers currently eligible for boosters, who provide services or work in facilities described in subdivision 1(a) must be "fully vaccinated and boosted" for COVID-19 receiving all recommended doses of the primary series of vaccines and a vaccine booster dose pursuant to Table A below. Skilled Nursing facilities must continue to comply with current federal requirements that may require more stringent testing of staff, including QSO-20-38-NH REVISED (cms.gov |PDF) Interim Final Rule (IFC), CMS-3401-IFC, Additional Policy and Regulatory Revisions in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency related to Long-Term Care (LTC) Facility Testing Requirements or similarrequirements that may be imposed in the future. No. Are regularly assigned to provide health care or health care services to incarcerated people. CMS updates guidance on COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers Workers may be exempt from the vaccination requirements under sections (1) and (2) only upon providing the operator of the facility a declination form, signed by the individual, stating either of the following: (1) the worker is declining vaccination based on Religious Beliefs, or (2) the worker is excused from receiving any COVID-19 vaccine due to Qualifying Medical Reasons. For CCHCS, requests shall be submitted to their supervisor and EEO coordinator via the CDCR 2273, Request for Religious Accommodation. Facilities covered by this Order, to the extent possible, are encouraged to provide onsite vaccinations, easy access to nearby vaccinations, use of work time to get vaccinated, and education and outreach on vaccinations. Workers who provide proof of COVID-19 infection shall be in compliance no later than 15 days after the expiration of their deferral. According to the CDC getting a COVID-19 vaccination is a safer and more dependable way to build immunity to COVID-19 than getting sick with COVID-19. Most current hospitalizations and deaths are among unvaccinated persons. Covered workers must continue to comply with all required primary series and vaccine booster doses pursuant to Table A below. Reset ii. As we respond to the ongoing pandemic, all workers in adult and senior care facilities and in-home direct care settings must be vaccinated to reduce the chance of transmission to vulnerable populations. Thus CDPH is updating its order requiring health care workers to be fully vaccinated and boosted by March 1, 2022 to allow delay of the March 1, 2022 deadline for receiving a booster for covered workers with proof of a recent infection for up to 90 days from date of infection. Testing Overview COVID-19 Antibody Testing Learn about COVID-19 antibodies and CDC recommendations for using COVID-19 antibody tests. Accordingly, amendments to the original State Public Health Officer Order of September 28, 2021, to make boosters mandatory and to require additional testing of workers eligible for boosters who are not yet boosted are necessary at this critical time. If the HA determines that the religious accommodation recommended by OCR will create an undue hardship for the Department, the HA shall specifically identify the reasons why the requested accommodation(s) creates an undue hardship for the Department and cannot be granted. Are regularly assigned to work in the areas, institutions, posts and locations specified in the. When you work directly with patients or handle body fluids, you're more likely to get and spread serious diseases. Boosters have been available in California since September 2021. Upon returning to work, workers shall immediately be provided written instructions to comply with mandatory COVID-19 vaccine, booster and testing requirements as follows. Following the approval of an accommodation request, HAs have the ability to remove an LOI. Follow the process for submitting proof of vaccination/booster outlined in Attachment A of the, Follow the process for submitting proof of testing outlined in Attachment B of, The worker has 15 calendar days to initiate a vaccination/booster, or they shall be subject to progressive discipline on the 16. c. For unvaccinated workers: signed declination forms with written health care provider's statement where applicable, as described in section (2) above. By the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are listed at the FDA COVID-19 Vaccines webpage. Since Thanksgiving, the statewide seven-day average case rate has increased by 34% and hospitalizations have increased by 17%. Yes, incarcerated workers shall wear the appropriate mask at all times based on current masking guidelines. All workers who are eligible for the exceptions outlined in subdivisions (b), (c), and (e) of section (1) must only provide services to a single household. Order of the State Public Health Officer Health Care Worker Vaccine The Delta variant is highly transmissible and may cause more severe illness. Workers shall not to be placed on Administrative Time Off (ATO) or involuntary dock. CDCR and CCHCS workers shall not be subject to progressive discipline for the following reasons: Yes, while the worker is pending corrective or disciplinary action, the worker should continue to report to work as scheduled. An LOI template is available upon request from the local Employee Relations Officer (ERO)/Health Care Employee Relations Officer (HCERO). California must be vigilant to maintain situational awareness through surveillance and be ready to pause or reinstate a higher level of protective mitigation recommendations or requirements. The custody Master Assignment Roster or applicable bid sheet(s) will be marked with a V for all vaccination/booster-required posts. The operator of the facility then also must maintain records of the worker's testing results, if testing is required, pursuant to section (4). Federal regulations 42 CFR 483.80(d)(3) and 42 CFR 483.460(a)(4)(i) also require that Long-Term Care (LTC) facilities and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs-IID) must offer COVID-19 vaccines to residents, clients, and staff onsite when supplies are available to the facility and in accordance with the CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) COVID-19 vaccine schedule, which includes bivalent booster doses. All individuals in subdivisions (a) through (e) must have the first dose of a one-dose regimen or the second dose of a two-dose regimen by November 30, 2021. a. California Allows Health Care Workers To Defer Mandated Booster Shot Based on Recent Infection Wednesday, March 16, 2022 On February 22, 2022, the California Department of Public Health. c. "Worker" refers to all paid and unpaid individuals who work in indoor settings where (1) care is provided to patients, or (2) patients have access for any purpose. Based on the emergence of Omicron, additional statewide facility-directed measures are necessary to ensure we maintain adequate staffing levels within our healthcare delivery system. No. Vaccines continue to remain the most critical aspect of moving our communities out of this pandemic. For these reasons, COVID-19 remains a concern to public health and, in order to prevent its further spread in hospitals, SNFs, and other health care settings, new public health requirements are necessary at this time. It's important for health care workers to stay on top of their vaccines. Masking requirements are subject to change at any time; current guidelines are posted on the COVID-19 response page. 3. PO Box 997377 13. Call 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) to be routed to Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) volunteer clinicians. Exempt workers must wear a respirator approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), such as an N95 filtering facepiece respirator, or surgical mask, at all times while in the facility. Under the PHO for adult care facilities and direct care workers, those workers with an approved vaccine exemption or who are eligible for a booster but have not yet received it, testing must be conducted weekly, commencing December 27, 2021. All workers who provide services or work in Adult and Senior Care Facilities licensed by the California Department of Social Services; b. Fully-vaccinated workers are only required to test when they become eligible for a booster but remain unboosted. This Order is issued pursuant to Health and Safety Code sections 120125, 120140, 120175,120195 and 131080 and other applicable law. Workers may be exempt from the vaccination requirements under section (1) only upon providing the employer or employer-recipient a declination form, signed by the individual stating either of the following: (1) the worker is declining vaccination based on Religious Beliefs, or (2) the worker is excused from receiving any COVID-19 vaccine due to Qualifying Medical Reasons.