WGH facing staff cuts over vaccine

All Wilbarger General Hospital staff must have their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine by Feb. 22 and be fully vaccinated by March 15, or have a waiver, according to federal requirements. Otherwise they will no longer be employed at the hospital. The Wilbarger General Hospital Board of Directors heard that news as part of their February meeting.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a vaccine mandate in November for health care workers at Medicare- and Medicaid-certified facilities. The mandate was on hold while Texas challenged it in court. On Jan. 13, the U.S. Supreme Court said the federal mandate for health care workers could be enforced. Chief Nursing Officer Carol Stiltner reported 14 WGH employees had not been vaccinated and that included five nurses.
“We anticipate we may see some staffing issues,” she said.
If those staff decline to receive the vaccine by the deadline it will be consider a resignation.