Colorado health care workers must get COVID-19 vaccine, state Board of Health rules

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DENVER — The Colorado State Board of Health in an August 30 meeting voted to approve emergency rules that require COVID-19 vaccinations for all staff members working in health care facilities.

“At this time, approximately 30% of the health care workforce remain unvaccinated,” the board wrote in a news release after the meeting. “With the rise in the Delta variant and increased stress on the healthcare system, ensuring that all workers in licensed healthcare facilities are vaccinated is one of the most effective means the state can take to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the most at-risk Coloradans and end this ongoing pandemic.”

Governor Jared Polis earlier this month wrote a letter to the board asking them to impose this mandate.

The new vaccine requirements apply at the following facilities:

  • General hospitals
  • Psychiatric hospitals
  • Community clinics
  • Rehabilitation hospitals
  • Convalescent centers
  • Community mental health centers
  • Acute treatment units
  • Facilities for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities
  • Nursing care facilities
  • Hospice care facilities
  • Assisted living residences
  • Dialysis treatment clinics
  • Ambulatory surgical centers
  • Birthing centers
  • Home care agencies

 

According to the health department, the mandate does not apply to primary care physicians or urgent care centers. The Colorado Sun reports that roughly 3,600 facilities will be affected by the vaccination policy.

Many major health care networks like UCHealth, Banner Health and Denver Health have already announced COVID-19 vaccine requirements for employees.

After UCHealth announced their requirements, a group of health care workers protested against the mandate.

With the FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine, vaccine requirements are expected to become more common.

Earlier this month, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock introduced a new health order requiring all city employees, including some private sector workers in high-risk settings like nursing homes, to be fully vaccinated by September 30.

“The only way out of this is with mandatory vaccinations,” said Bob McDonald, the executive director of Denver Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE).

Kyle Cooke is the Digital Media Manager at Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach him at kylecooke@rmpbs.org.