They are critical for building a foundation of individual and herd immunity, especially while a portion of our population continues to be unvaccinated. California has seen a dramatic increase in the percentage of Californians that are fully vaccinated and boosted. This is a separate process from the religious accommodation process and the filing of a claim, whether internal or external, does not prevent consideration of progressive discipline once the HA determination for religious accommodation has been made. The operator of the facility then also must maintain records of the worker's testing results, if testing is required, pursuant to section (4). Chemical Dependency Recovery Hospitals, ix. This includes workers serving in residential care or other direct care settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to persons in care or SARS-CoV-2 airborne aerosols. Accordingly, amendments to the original State Public Health Officer Order of September 28, 2021, to make boosters mandatory and to require additional testing of workers eligible for boosters who are not yet boosted are necessary at this critical time. Hospitals, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), and the other health care facility types identified in this order are particularly high-risk settings where COVID-19 outbreaks can have severe consequences for vulnerable populations including hospitalization, severe illness, and death. Increasing evidence shows that a combination of infection after completing the primary series of vaccination can build strong hybrid immunity. At present, 69.34% of Californians 12 years of age and older are fully vaccinated with an additional 8.26% are partially vaccinated. Have submitted a request for religious or reasonable medical accommodation to the vaccine/booster and are pending a determination of the request. This includes workers serving in health care or other health care settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or SARS-CoV-2 airborne aerosols. All workers who provide services or work in facilities described in subdivision (a) have their first dose of a one-dose regimen or their second dose of a two-dose regimen by September 30, 2021: ii. Work within skilled nursing facilities (SNF), intermediate care facilities, or the equivalent that are integrated into the correctional facility or areas where health care is provided. Call 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) to be routed to Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) volunteer clinicians. By February 1, 2022, health care workers and all employees in high-risk congregate settings, including nursing homes, will be required to get their booster. Reference: State Public Health Officer Order of September 28, 2021 . Yes, incarcerated workers shall wear the appropriate mask at all times based on current masking guidelines. The, troduction to State Public Health Officer Order of September 13, 2022, en a. For CCHCS, requests shall be submitted to their vendor/contractor/network contractor, along with a written statement signed by a physician, nurse practitioner, or other licensed medical professional practicing under the license of a physician stating that the individual qualifies for the accommodation (but the statement shall not describe the underlying health condition or disability) and the probable duration of an individuals inability to receive any COVID-19 vaccine (or if the duration is unknown or permanent, so indicate). All COVID-19 vaccines that are currently authorized for emergency use can be found at the following links: i. Once a determination on the religious accommodation request is made, HAs shall notify the Direct Care Contracts Section (DCCS), the provider/contractor, and the network contractor (if applicable). Workers shall continue reporting to work, wear the appropriate mask at all times based on current masking guidelines as posted on the Lifeline COVID-19 page, and test twice-weekly (with 48-72 hours between each test), until fully-vaccinated/boosted. Single booster dose of Monderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Upon receipt of the approval or denial by the vendor/contractor/network contractor, DCCS shall forward to HAs at the location(s) the provider/contractor renders services. HAs shall consider allowing workers to request and utilize their own leave only if this request can be approved without an undue burden on operations or costs (e.g. While awaiting determination, workers shall continue reporting to work, wear the appropriate mask at all times based on current masking guidelines as posted on the Lifeline COVID-19 page, and test twice-weekly (with 48-72 hours between each test), until fully-vaccinated or until boosted (if booster-eligible). Healthcare workers include physicians, nurses, emergency medical personnel, dental professionals and students, medical and nursing students, laboratory technicians, pharmacists, hospital volunteers, and administrative staff. However, additional statewide facility-directed measures are necessary to protect particularly vulnerable populations, and ensure a sufficient, consistent supply of workers in high-risk health care settings. Early data also suggest the increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant is two to four times as infectious as the Delta variant, and there is evidence of immune evasion. Booster-eligible and unboosted workers shall test twice-weekly (with 48-72 hours between each test), until boosted. Two-dose vaccines include: Pfizer-BioNTech,Moderna or Novavaxor vaccines authorized by the World Health Organization. 4. Procedure and KN95/N95 masks are readily available at each institution/facility and shall be provided to workers when requested. Note: During a COVID-19 outbreak, all workers may be subject to more frequent and regular intervals of COVID-19 testing regardless of vaccination status. Workers shall not be removed from their assigned posts or positions. Thus CDPH is updating its order requiring health care workers to be fully vaccinated and boosted by March 1, 2022 to allow delay of the March 1, 2022 deadline for receiving a booster for covered workers with proof of a recent infection for up to 90 days from date of infection. ii. In fact, recent data suggests that viral load is roughly 1,000 times higher in people infected with the Delta variant than those infected with the original coronavirus strain, according to a recent study. Newsom first announced. Introduction to State Public Health Officer Order of September 13, 2022. If the worker still refuses to comply within this timeframe, HAs shall initiate or continue corrective or disciplinary action. If not yet eligible for a vaccine booster, obtain booster dose no later than 15 calendar days after the recommended timeframe per Table A of the. Yes, if they are regularly assigned to work in the areas, institutions, posts and locations specified in the August 23, 2021 and January 28, 2022, memoranda. If the accommodation request is denied, the worker has 15 calendar days to initiate a vaccination/booster. 7. Workers who provide proof of COVID-19 infection shall be in compliance no later than 15 days after the expiration of their deferral. Nothing in this Order limits otherwise applicable requirements related to Personal Protective Equipment, personnel training, and infection control policies and practices. If you're a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, lab technician, or other health care worker, protect yourself and your . to Default, Order-of-the-State-Public-Health-Officer-Adult-Care-Facilities-and-Direct-Care-Worker-Vaccine-Requirement, About the Viral and Rickettsial Disease Lab, CDER Information for Health Professionals, Communicable Disease Emergency Response Program, DCDC Information for Local Health Departments, Sexually Transmitted Diseases Control Branch, VRDL Guidelines for Specimen Collection and Submission for Pathologic Testing, State of CaliforniaHealth and Human Services Agency, This State Public Health Officer Order will takeeffect onApril 3, 2023. On August 11th and August 24th the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in updated guidance, also indicated that screening testing is no longer recommended in general community settings, and while screening testing may still be considered in high-risk settings, if implemented it should include all persons, regardless of vaccination status, given recent variants and subvariants with significant immune evasion. Worker is fully-vaccinated, has/had a proven COVID-19 infection, and deferred booster administration by up to 90 days. Novavax is not authorized for use as a booster dose at this time, Booster dose at least 2 months and no more than 6 months after 1st dose, World Health Organization (WHO) emergency use listing COVID-19 vaccine, Booster dose at least 2 months and no more than 6 months after getting all recommended doses, Single booster dose of Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Yes, workers who previously had COVID19 still need to get vaccinated and/or boosted if they are regularly assigned to work in the areas, institutions, posts and locations specified in the August 23, 2021 and January 28, 2022, memoranda, unless they have an approved religious or reasonable medical accommodation for the vaccine/booster. Order of the State Public Health Officer Health Care Worker Health (1 days ago) WebAll workers currently eligible for boosters, who provide services or work in facilities described in subdivision 1 (a) must be "fully vaccinated and boosted" for COVID Cdph.ca.gov . Signs announcing COVID-19 testing at the campus of Chico State University in Chico on Nov. 4, 2021. Worker has been continuously off-work from the time the. Unvaccinated and partially-vaccinated workers who are NOT regularly assigned in healthcare areas shall test at least once weekly until fully-vaccinated per the July 26, 2021, CDPH Order. If the HA determines that the religious accommodation recommended by OCR will create an undue hardship for the Department, the HA shall specifically identify the reasons why the requested accommodation(s) creates an undue hardship for the Department and cannot be granted. Copyright 2023 California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation. Novavax is not authorized for use as a booster dose at this time, A mix and match series composed of any combination of FDA-approved, FDA-authorized, or WHO-EUL COVID-19 vaccines, Booster dose at least2 months and no more than6 monthsafter getting all recommended doses, Order of the State Public Health Officer Health Care Worker Vaccine Requirement. If a worker prefers a particular vaccination brand, they should make arrangements to get that vaccination brand timely. Vaccination/booster status will be verified by management. There is frequent exposure to staff and highly vulnerable patients, including elderly, chronically ill, critically ill, medically fragile, and disabled patients. 10. Fully vaccinated workers who are not yet eligible for a booster are only required to test when they become booster eligible but remain unboosted. California is currently experiencing the fastest increase in COVID-19 cases during the entire pandemic with 18.3 new cases per 100,000 people per day, with case rates increasing ninefold within two months. The state's health commissioner Mary Bassett on Friday announced that health officials would delay the booster requirement that was set to take effect Monday. At present, 80% of Californians 12 years of age and older have completed their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines, and 62% have also received at least their first booster dose. Between that time and the March 1st, 2022, deadline, booster rates for healthcare personnelincreased 47%. This Order shall take effect on September 17, 2022, and facilities must be in compliance with the Order at that time, with the exception of the deadlines set forth in section 2.a, which facilities must comply with as written. 2. Additionally, facilities must continue to track workers' vaccination or exemption status to ensure they are complying with these requirements. They are critical for building a foundation of individual and herd immunity, especially while a portion of our population continues to be unvaccinated. Consequently, although COVID-19 remains with us, I am rescinding the September 28, 2021 State Public Health Officer Order effective April 3, 2023. At present, 63% of Californians 12 years of age and older are fully vaccinated with an additional 10% partially vaccinated. Skilled Nursing facilities must continue to comply with current federal requirements that may require more stringent testing of staff, including QSO-20-38-NH REVISED (cms.gov |PDF) Interim Final Rule (IFC), CMS-3401-IFC, Additional Policy and Regulatory Revisions in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency related to Long-Term Care (LTC) Facility Testing Requirements or similarrequirements that may be imposed in the future. For these reasons, COVID-19 remains a concern to public health and, in order to prevent its further spread in adult and senior care facilities and in-home direct care settings, new public health requirements are necessary at this time. A mix and match series composed of any combination ofFDA-approved, FDA-authorized, or WHO-EUL COVID-19 vaccines. The facility must provide such records to the local or state Public Health Officer or their designee promptly upon request, and in any event no later than the next business day after receiving the request. Accordingly, amendments to the original State Public Health Officer Order of August 5, 2021, to make boosters mandatory and to require additional testing of workers eligible for boosters who are not yet boosted, are necessary at this critical time. No. The stay temporarily halts enforcement of the ruling last month from state Supreme Court Judge Gerald Neri in Syracuse that declared the health worker . Staff working at or visiting Headquarters, Regional, and Field Office locations shall follow current non-institutional masking guidelines. Workers include, but are not limited to, nurses, nursing assistants, physicians, technicians, therapists, phlebotomists, pharmacists, students and trainees, contractual staff not employed by the health care facility, and persons not directly involved in patient care, but who could be exposed to infectious agents that can be transmitted in the health care setting (e.g., clerical, dietary, environmental services, laundry, security, engineering and facilities management, administrative, billing, and volunteer personnel). a. Are regularly assigned to provide health care or health care services to incarcerated people. Testing Overview COVID-19 Antibody Testing Learn about COVID-19 antibodies and CDC recommendations for using COVID-19 antibody tests. On December 22, the California Department of Public Health issued an order that requires health care workers working at certain facilities to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to receive boosters by February 1 unless an exemption applies.