Effects Of An Employee COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate At A Long-Term Care Network

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Occupational Health
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid implementation of vaccination strategies.
• Mandates became a key tool for increasing vaccination rates in healthcare settings.
• Long-term care facilities faced unique challenges due to vulnerable populations and workforce dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of an employee COVID-19 vaccination mandate on vaccination status and employment.
• To quantify vaccination uptake and termination rates following a mandate announcement.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of employee vaccination and employment data.
• Assessment of unvaccinated employees before and after a mandate announcement.
• Calculation of vaccination and termination percentages based on mandate noncompliance.

Main Results:

• Following the mandate announcement, 56.2% of previously unvaccinated employees received the COVID-19 vaccine.
• 20.9% of unvaccinated employees were terminated for noncompliance, representing 3.7% of all active employees.
• The study assessed a cohort of 1,208 unvaccinated employees prior to the mandate.

Conclusions:

• COVID-19 vaccination mandates can significantly increase vaccination coverage in long-term care workforces.
• Mandates also lead to employee attrition, impacting workforce stability.
• Balancing public health goals with employment considerations is crucial when implementing such policies.