August 18, 2021

This requirement only applies to nursing facility staff

The Oregon Health Care Association (OHCA), the largest long term care trade association in Oregon, has made the following statement following the Biden Administration’s announcement today requiring nursing facility staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19:

“Every health care worker who can be vaccinated, should be vaccinated, and OHCA supports efforts to require vaccinations for healthcare workers,” said OHCA CEO Phil Bentley. “Vaccinations are saving lives and we support measures to increase vaccine levels of all health care workers in all settings. Fortunately, many of Oregon’s nursing facilities have already achieved high vaccination levels for their staff and residents.”

“However, we are disappointed that the Biden’s Administration’s proposal to mandate staff vaccinations singles out only nursing facilities,” said Bentley. “Vaccine mandates for caregivers and staff must be applied to all healthcare settings. Singling out just nursing facilities will cause vaccine hesitant workers to seek employment in other health care settings and patients in those settings will not be equally protected. Additionally, nursing facilities are already facing a workforce shortage crisis, and this proposal will make that worse.”