HPAE Statement on hospitals mandating healthcare workers vaccination

Please attribute the following statement to HPAE President Debbie White, RN:

Healthcare workers—including HPAE members—have been on the front lines taking care of patients sick from COVID-19, its variants and after-effects of the disease. Healthcare workers were exposed to the disease in their workplaces, got infected and became sick with COVID-19. Seven HPAE members that we know of have died from the disease.

No one understands better than our members the devastation of COVID.

HPAE believes the Covid vaccine does provide the best protection against the virus but we also understand that there may be some for whom the vaccine is prohibitive. We also believe that the employer has a responsibility to bargain over the effects of a mandatory vaccine roll out.

Fore more information, contact: Michael Allen, (646) 436-7556