PCHS included in fed’s vax mandate

Unless a preliminary injunction is granted in a lawsuit filed by 10 states, including Nebraska, employees of Perkins County Health Services will be required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by Jan. 4, 2022. 

    PCHS CEO Neil Hilton updated Perkins County commissioners on the situation during their regular meeting Monday.

Of the 230 employees at PCHS, Hilton said around 65% have been vaccinated to date. 

That leaves around 80 employees who have not yet been vaccinated for the virus. 

    On Nov. 4, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a federal mandate that requires COVID-19 vaccinations for more than 17 million workers in about 76,000 health care facilities and home health care providers that get funding from the government health programs.

Hilton said that includes most hospitals in the country since nearly all take Medicare or Medicaid payments. 

To comply, non-vaccinated employees must receive their first vaccination no later than Dec. 5 and have the vaccination process completed by Jan. 4, 2022. 

Hilton said that means any employee not receiving their vaccination by Dec. 5 will not be allowed to work.

Employees can seek religious or health-related exemptions from the mandate. Hilton said a local committee will review and rule on all exemption requests. 

The hospital’s lawyers briefed PCHS staff Monday on just how far-reaching the new rule goes. 

    Hilton said any vendor who provides a service to the hospital, such as a food vendor delivery person, and steps inside the facility must also be vaccinated.

Lawsuit filed by states

The lawsuit filed in a federal court in Missouri contends that the vaccine requirement threatens the jobs of millions of health care workers and could “exacerbate an alarming shortage’’ in health care fields, particularly in rural areas where some health workers have been hesitant to get the shots.

Joining the lawsuit were the attorneys general of Nebraska, Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. All are Republicans except for Democratic Attorney General Tom Miller of Iowa, whose state is led by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds.

The lawsuit contends that numerous health workers are likely to be fired, retire or quit rather than get vaccinated for COVID-19, which it said “jeopardizes the healthcare interests of rural Americans.’’

The lawsuit points to concerns from rural hospital administrators in Missouri and Nebraska. 

For example, it says that Great Plains Health in North Platte, Nebraska, is able to staff only about 70 of its 116 beds because of workforce shortages. 

It has also received notice from a majority of personnel in its behavioral health unit that they would resign rather than be vaccinated.

Hilton said some employees at PCHS could also make that choice, which would put a strain on remaining staff.

The suit follows similar ones by Republican-led states challenging new Biden administration rules that will require federal contractors to ensure their workers are vaccinated and that businesses with more than 100 employees require their workers to get vaccinated or wear masks and get tested weekly for the Coronavirus.

All of the mandates are scheduled to take effect Jan. 4

But the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals already has temporarily blocked the business vaccine rule, saying it raises “grave statutory and constitutional issues.’’

More vaccine clinics set

Hilton said PCHS be holding a Moderna vaccine clinic on both Nov. 29 and Dec. 9. It is open to anyone 18 and over who are looking for their first or second vaccine shot.

The booster is also available for anyone 65 and over. Others qualify if they are in a high risk profession or have underlying conditions such as diabetes or hypertension. 

 To schedule, call Dana McArtor 308-352-7214 or Kristi Griffiths 308-352-7236. If no answer, leave a message for a call back.

During a clinic last week, Hilton said they vaccinated or provided boosters to more than 180 people. 

He said residents in the care homes received booster shots. 

(Staff and Associated Press reports were used to compile this story.)