Adult and senior care facilities, and settings within which direct care and services are provided, as identified in this order, are high-risk settings where COVID-19 transmission and outbreaks can have severe consequences for vulnerable populations resulting in hospitalization, severe illness, and death. COVID-19 vaccination causes a more predictable immune response than infection with the virus that causes COVID-19." Sacramento, CA 95899-7377, For General Public Information:
Chemical Dependency Recovery Hospitals, ix. For the most current testing requirements for the incarcerated, refer to the COVID-19 Interim Guidance. Vaccine coverage is also high among workers in high-risk settings, and the proportion of unvaccinated workers is low. Conversely, the level of protection people get from COVID-19 infection alone may vary widely depending on how mild or severe their illness was, the time since their infection, which variant they were infected with, and their age. Unvaccinated and partially-vaccinated workers who are NOT regularly assigned in healthcare areas shall test at least once weekly until fully-vaccinated per the July 26, 2021, CDPH Order. Unvaccinated/partially vaccinated with a pending or approved accommodation. k Workers include, but are not limited to, nurses, nursing assistants, physicians, technicians, therapists, phlebotomists, pharmacists, students and trainees, contractual staff not employed by the health care facility, and persons not directly involved in patient care, but who could be exposed to infectious agents that can be transmitted in the health care setting (e.g., clerical, dietary, environmental services, laundry, security, engineering and facilities management, administrative, billing, and volunteer personnel). CDPH public health orders for institution/facility staff: COVID-19 CDPH continues to assess conditions on an ongoing basis. Workers not yet eligible for boosters must be in compliance no later than 15 days after the recommended timeframe above for receiving the booster dose. Are regularly assigned to work in the areas, institutions, posts and locations specified in the. 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 COVID-19 pandemic remains a significant challenge in California. California Department of Public Health - cdph.ca.gov Workers who are not yet eligible for a booster must comply no later than 15 days after the CDPH's recommended timeframe (see Table, below) for . Although COVID-19 vaccination remains effective in preventing severe disease, recent data suggest vaccination becomes less effective over time at preventing infection or milder illness with symptoms, especially in people aged 65 years and older. Workers have the option to submit a request for religious or reasonable medical accommodation for the vaccine/booster within 15 calendar days upon their return to work. California to require health care workers get COVID-19 booster shots Vaccines for children 5-11 years of age have been available since October 2021. Progressive discipline shall not be initiated immediately. In March 2022, California announced the release of the state's SMARTER Plan, the next phase of California's COVID-19 response. 9. Fully vaccinated workers who are not yet eligible for a booster are only required to test when they become booster eligible but remain unboosted. In addition, at the federal level, QSO-23-02-ALL (Revised Guidance for Staff Vaccination Requirements) currently requires all Medicare- and Medicaid-certified providers ensure that all applicable staff are vaccinated with COVID19 primary series. 10. HAs shall consider allowing workers to request and utilize their own leave only if this request can be approved without an undue burden on operations or costs (e.g. In addition, the recent emergence of the Omicron variant (it is estimated that approximately 70% of cases sequenced, nationally, are Omicron and rapid increases are occurring globally) further emphasizes the importance of vaccination, boosters, and prevention efforts, including testing, which are needed to continue protecting against COVID-19. Workers shall continue reporting to work, wear the appropriate mask at all times based on current masking guidelines as posted on the Lifeline COVID-19 page, and test twice-weekly (with 48-72 hours between each test), until fully-vaccinated/boosted. California has seen a dramatic increase in the percentage of Californians that are fully vaccinated and boosted. 5. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Nothing in this Order limits otherwise applicable requirements related to Personal Protective Equipment, personnel training, and infection control policies and practices. 2. Have submitted a request for religious or reasonable medical accommodation to the vaccine/booster and are pending a determination of the request. Consequently, current vaccine requirements of staff in health care settings are not proving sufficient to prevent transmission of the more transmissible Omicron variant. [2]To provide proof of prior infection, workers must provide documentation of previous diagnosis from a healthcare provider or confirmed laboratory results. Between that time and the March 1st, 2022, deadline, booster rates for healthcare personnelincreased 47%. Yes, if they are assigned to areas/locations subject to the CDPH order and are: Testing frequency and intervals are subject to change at any time. Yes, if they are regularly assigned to work in the areas, institutions, posts and locations specified in the August 23, 2021 and January 28, 2022, memoranda. Vaccination against COVID-19 is the most effective means of preventing infection with the COVID-19 virus, and subsequent transmission and outbreaks. Increasing numbers of health care workers are among the new positive cases, despite vaccinations being prioritized for this group when vaccines initially became available. Newsom first announced. COVID-19 vaccines are effective in reducing infection and serious impacts including hospitalization and death. b. Any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States may be used for the booster dose, but either Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech are preferred. d. Testing records (when required) pursuant to section (4) must be maintained. Standard language for the CDCR Form 989 has been developed to assist HAs and to expedite processing of these requests through the OIA Central Intake Unit process; please consult with the local EEO/HCERO. 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. On December 22, 2021, this Order was amended to make boosters mandatory for covered workers and to require additional testing of workers eligible for boosters who are not yet boosted. Coronavirus Disease 2019 - Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Novavax is not authorized for use as a booster dose at this time, A mix and match series composed of any combination of FDA-approved, FDA-authorized, or WHO-EUL COVID-19 vaccines, Booster dose at least2 months and no more than6 monthsafter getting all recommended doses, Order of the State Public Health Officer Health Care Worker Vaccine Requirement. At present, 63% of Californians 12 years of age and older are fully vaccinated with an additional 10% partially vaccinated. Workers with a deferral due to a proven COVID-19 infection must be in compliance no later than 15 days after the expiration of their deferral. Michigan State drops COVID-19 vaccinations and booster requirements for Accordingly, amendments to the original State Public Health Officer Order of December 22, 2021, are needed at this time, to reflect current science and understandingas it relates to hybrid immunity in those who are fully vaccinated and then become infected. Booster Mandate For Healthcare Workers - health-mental.org guidance, also indicated that screening testing is no longer recommended in general community settings, and while screening testing may still be considered in high-risk settings, if implemented it should include all persons, irrespective of vaccination status, given the recent variants and subvariants with significant immune evasion. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. By the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are listed at the FDA COVID-19 Vaccines webpage. Additional statewide directed measures are necessary to protect particularly vulnerable populations, and ensure a sufficient, consistent supply of workers in high-risk care settings. For CDCR, requests shall be submitted in accordance with the process outlined above. Workers include, but are not limited to, direct supportive services staff, hospice providers, nurses, nursing assistants, physicians, technicians, therapists, WPCS providers, IHSS providers, registered home care aides, certified home health aides, students and trainees, contractual staff not employed by the residential facility, and persons not directly involved in providing care or services, but who could be exposed to infectious agents that can be transmitted in the care setting (e.g., clerical, clergy, dietary, environmental services, laundry, security, engineering and facilities management, administrative, billing, cosmetology, personal training and volunteer personnel). Alternatively, workers may select another no-cost community clinic listed on the California COVID-19 website or their personal health care provider and follow the process for submitting proof of testing outlined in Attachment B of the January 28, 2022, memorandum. 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. and based on concerning levels of transmission locally. 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. 4. Sacramento, CA 95899-7377, For General Public Information:
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. Decrease, Reset
All in-home direct care services workers, including registered home care aides and certified home health aides, except for those workers who only provide services to a recipient with whom they live or who are a family member of the recipient for whom they provide services; c. All waiver personal care services (WPCS) providers, as defined by the California Department of Health Care Services, and in-home supportive services (IHSS) providers, as defined by the California Department of Social Services, except for those workers who only provide services to a recipient with whom they live or who are a family member of the recipient for whom they provide services; d. All hospice workers who are providing services in the home or in a licensed facility; and. Since Thanksgiving, the statewide seven-day average case rate has increased by 34% and hospitalizations have increased by 17%. b. access to online resources providing up to date information on COVID-19 science and research. This is a separate process from the religious accommodation process and the filing of a claim, whether internal or external, does not prevent consideration of progressive discipline once the HA determination for religious accommodation has been made. COVID-19 vaccination causes a more predictable immune response than infection with the virus that causes COVID-19.Conversely, the level of protection people get from COVID-19 infection alone may vary widely depending on how mild or severe their illness was, the time since their infection, which variant they were infected with, and their age. A state appeals court issued a stay Monday that will keep New York's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health workers in place during an ongoing court battle. If booster-eligible, obtain vaccine booster dose within 15 calendar days and immediately undergo twice-weekly COVID-19 testing (with 48-72 hours between each test), until boosted. This includes workers serving in health care or other health care settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or SARS-CoV-2 airborne aerosols. The terms of this Order supersede the August 5, 2021 State Health Officer Health Care Worker Vaccine Requirement Order. They lower risk of getting and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 and also prevent serious illness and death. Workers should only test if 90 days have passed since they tested positive. Workers may obtain no-cost COVID-19 testing from CDCR/CCHCS testing clinic(s) at their institution/facility. 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. As we continue to learn more about post-Omicron infection immunity, hybrid immunity, waning immunity in general, and what new variants may evolve, we will continue to reassess COVID-19 vaccine requirements and recommendations. The Delta variant is currently the most common variant causing new infections in California. When the CDCR Form 989 is submitted through the OIAs Case Management System, the HA shall also provide written instruction to the worker to comply with the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine booster dose and/or twice-weekly testing requirements, within seven calendar days. 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.