“As the omicron variant continues to spread, we’re stepping up efforts to get more people boosted and keep Californians safe,” Mr. Newsom tweeted Dec. 21.
The announcement — which came after California issued an order Aug. 5 requiring workers in healthcare settings to be fully vaccinated — is part of new state actions amid a COVID-19 surge.
New daily COVID-19 hospitalization rates in the U.S. have risen 11 percent in the last two weeks, with California seeing a 9 percent increase, according to data tracked by The New York Times.
Under the state’s new requirement, healthcare workers and all workers in high-risk congregate settings, including nursing homes, must receive their booster by Feb. 1. Meanwhile, healthcare workers that have not received their booster must test for COVID-19 twice weekly until they are up to date on their shots, Mr. Newsom said in a news release.
Regarding the new requirement, Chris Van Gorder, president and CEO of San Diego-based Scripps Health, told Becker’s: “It’s clear to me that for maximum protection from omicron a booster is necessary to be fully vaccinated.”
California is not the only state requiring boosters. On Dec. 2, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that many state workers — including all in healthcare and congregate-care settings — must receive a booster dose by Jan. 17 or within four weeks of becoming eligible for one.
This article was updated Dec. 23.
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
