The VA is mandating that all VHA health care personnel, including HPTs, be vaccinated for COVID-19 by October 7, 2021. Unvaccinated staff who interact with Veterans are putting Veterans at risk—and that’s a risk we simply cannot take.
Please take action and contact your affiliates and program directors to apprise them of this new condition of VA appointment. It is the program’s responsibility to track vaccination of their HPTs. The existing TQCVL already covers requiring the COVID-19 vaccine as it has been added to the web site: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/hcw.html
Much like the Influenza vaccine, all HPTs training in a VA facility must be fully vaccinated or have an exemption filed (medical or religious) with the DEO. https://vaww.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/VA%20Form%2010-263%20COVID-19%20Vaccination.pdf
If an HPT is not vaccinated or filed an exemption by October 7, 2021, they cannot come to the VA. To enforce this policy, it is important for DEOs to communicate regularly with HPTs, Site Directors, and Program Directors about HPT adherence to this policy.