Radiologists are among the millions of physicians, nurses and other healthcare personnel urging hospitals, nursing homes and other organizations to require COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment.
The Society of Interventional Radiology joins 58 other medical specialty societies including the American Medical Association and American Nurses Association in advocating for the mandate. Their concerns come as the U.S. experiences a nationwide rise in coronavirus cases fueled by the highly contagious Delta variant, with higher tallies among geographies reporting lower vaccination rates.
“Due to the recent COVID-19 surge and the availability of safe and effective vaccines, our healthcare organizations and societies advocate that all healthcare and long-term care employers require their workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine,” the Society of Interventional Radiology and others wrote July 26. “This is the logical fulfillment of the ethical commitment of all healthcare workers to put patients as well as residents of long-term care facilities first and take all steps necessary to ensure their health and wellbeing.”
Several institutions have already started requiring vaccination among their healthcare workforce, including Houston Methodist in Texas. COVID-19 vaccinations can help to prevent infections among healthcare workers, one recent study found. But skepticism remains among some segments of the workforce. One analysis by WebMD and Medscape estimated that 25% of hospital workers who interact with patients had not been vaccinated as of late May.
The dozens of healthcare groups believe mandates are “especially necessary” to protect vulnerable populations such as unvaccinated children and the immunocompromised. They acknowledged a “small minority” of workers who cannot be vaccinated because of medical reason and may require an exemption.
“Simultaneously, we recognize the historical mistrust of healthcare institutions, including among many in our own healthcare workforce. We must continue to address workers’ concerns, engage with marginalized populations, and work with trusted messengers to improve vaccine acceptance,” the groups advised.
Others signing the pledge included the American Society for Radiation Oncology, the American College of Surgeons and the Association for Clinical Oncology. About 60% of all U.S. adults are fully vaccinated but immunization rates have slowed since mid-April, according to the Washington Post, which first reported news of the statement Monday.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.