The three vaccine mandate deadlines US hospitals need to know

Editor's Note

On January 19, a federal court dismissed a lawsuit filed by the state of Texas opposing the federal vaccine mandate. This came just days after the Supreme Court also ruled to uphold the mandate “to promote and protect patient health and safety.” On January 20, CMS issued updated vaccination guidelines to enforce the mandate.

According to Becker’s Hospital Review, three deadlines now loom for health systems participating in Medicare and Medicaid to comply with the mandate across the country. Local governments are ultimately responsible for enforcing compliance with the vaccine mandate, which has led to a disparity in vaccination rates at the regional level.

Healthcare facilities in the 24 states, covered by the Supreme Court decision, must ensure their employees have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by February 14 and are fully vaccinated by March 15.

Healthcare facilities in 25 states, where the mandate was already in effect, must ensure staff have received at least one dose of the vaccine by January 27 and are fully vaccinated by February 28. 

Healthcare facilities in Texas must ensure staff have received at least one dose of the vaccine by February 22 and are fully vaccinated by March 21.