LINCOLN — A court ruling that blocked implementation of a federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers in Nebraska and nine other states has some hospitals rethinking their own vaccine mandates.

A federal judge in Missouri temporarily suspended an emergency rule on November 29th that would require health workers at facilities covered by Medicare and Medicaid to at least get one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Monday, December 13th.

While the ruling does not bar health care facilities from enacting their own vaccine mandate, the two health systems that serve the Lincoln area are backing off those mandates somewhat.

St. Elizabeth and Nebraska Heart Hospital in Lincoln, both of which are owned by CHI Health, hospitals in Omaha, and in many other cities, said they are pushing back the date for compliance at least a month.

"In light of the changing legal landscape in federal courts, including the recent nationwide injunction on the CMS rule, we are suspending the (Dec. 6) deadline for compliance until at least January," Jeanette Wojtalewicz, interim president and CEO of CHI Health, said in a statement.

She went on to say that unvaccinated employees without an exemption will be allowed to keep working for this extended period, but must wear masks and submit regular COVID-19 tests.

Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson filed a lawsuit to suspend the vaccine mandate for health workers. The lawsuit, compounded with the already understaffed hospitals and health care facilities, has led many to reconsider their internal vaccine mandates.

"It all boils down to workforce," said Andy Hale, vice president of advocacy for the Nebraska Hospital Association.

The workforce issue was prevalent prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in rural areas. The problem would likely get worse with a vaccine mandate in effect.

For the full article click HERE