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COVID-19 Vaccination of Health Care Personnel as a Condition of EmploymentA Logical Addition to Institutional Safety Programs

Educational Objective
To identify the key insights or developments described in this article
1 Credit CME

The consequences of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic have been far-reaching, particularly among health care personnel (HCP) and within health care settings. HCP have been directly affected, sustaining occupationally acquired COVID-19 infections, and indirectly through a substantial alteration in health care delivery. With the advent of highly effective and safe SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, case rates and hospitalization rates are declining, and the promise of a return to some semblance of pre–COVID-19 health care is growing. Recently, several medical centers have announced a requirement for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination of all HCP (allowing for medical and religious exemptions), and the impending licensure of the mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines (following the previous Emergency Use Authorization [EUA]) will move many other centers to consider a similar policy. A recent outbreak in a skilled nursing facility attributed to an unvaccinated HCP member clearly illustrates the risk unvaccinated HCP can pose to their patients and other HCP.1

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CME Disclosure Statement: Unless noted, all individuals in control of content reported no relevant financial relationships. If applicable, all relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

Article Information

Corresponding Author: Thomas R. Talbot, MD, MPH, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1161 21st Ave S, A2200 Medical Center North, Nashville, TN 37232 (tom.talbot@vumc.org).

Published Online: June 7, 2021. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.8901

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

References
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