The University of Wisconsin Health System will mandate the coronavirus vaccine booster shot for all staff and volunteers, according to a Wednesday release.
The new requirement will build on a previous mandate initiated last year by the group that made 96 percent of the staff fully vaccinated. The healthcare system detailed that there were “only a handful choosing not to comply with the policy.”
“Our staff have been incredibly supportive of vaccination efforts in our system, our community and our state. They see first-hand how important it is to get a booster as we deal with the omicron surge,” said Dr. Jeff Pothof, chief quality officer for the organization. “After more than two years of this ever-changing pandemic, we know the importance of getting vaccinated and getting boosted.”
All individuals must receive the extra shot by May 2. However, the group said, “People who have a documented medical condition that prevents them from being vaccinated or a religious conviction as defined in state law can file for an exemption to the vaccine requirement.”
The mandate comes as coronavirus cases across the country are steadily dropping. Many states, even those led by Democratic politicians, are ending certain restrictions.
In Wisconsin, according to the Mayo Clinic, the average positivity rate has dropped almost 10 points in roughly one month.
Furthermore, experts have warned that mandates, like the booster shot, could lead to labor shortages. Healthcare systems in particular have been plagued with low staff numbers. Amid the surge of cases attributed to the Omicron variant, approximately 23 percent of all hospitals in the country reported critical numbers.
Because of these conditions, Governor Tony Evers had to deploy the Wisconsin National Guard to certain medical facilities across the state.
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Wisconsin Daily Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “University of Wisconsin Health” by UW Health.
