12/28/2021

California Updates Public Health Order to Require Boosters for Health Care Personnel

California Updates Public Health Order to Require Boosters for Health Care Personnel

California has updated the current Public Health Order mandating health care personnel to obtain a COVID-19 vaccination booster.  The order states, “Based on the emergence of Omicron, additional statewide facility-directed measures are necessary to ensure we maintain adequate staffing levels within our healthcare delivery system. Additionally, given the current hospital census, even a moderate surge in cases and hospitalizations could materially impact California's health care delivery system within certain regions of the state. 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.”

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has releases a revised All Facilities letter (AFL). This AFL revision notifies all facilities of the December 22, 2021, Public Health Order and requires HCP be up to date with vaccinations and receive boosters by February 1, 2022, unless exempt. This revision also updates the testing requirements to require at least weekly COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated exempt HCP and booster-eligible HCP who have not yet received their booster. Facilities must begin testing of all booster-eligible HCP who have not yet received their booster by December 27, 2021, and be in full compliance by January 7, 2022.