A message from the WVNA

WVNA Statement

Encouraging COVID-19 Vaccinations among Healthcare Workers and General Population

August 19, 2021

The WVNA advocates for the safety and wellbeing of nurses and patients across the state of WV. The past 18 months have been difficult as nurses and all frontline care providers have worked tirelessly to care for people with COVID-19 and other diseases and illnesses. Unfortunately, the challenges have not ended as we are now faced with variant strains showing increased transmissibility and an additional surge of COVID hospitalizations.

Maintaining the integrity of hospitals and healthcare systems to be available for West Virginians whenever the need arises is vital. Protection of the health of those working on the frontlines of care delivery is of central importance to maintain the healthcare infrastructure. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities are now faced with considering policies regarding COVID-19 vaccinations as a condition of employment, similar to other transmissible diseases, as a means to protect our healthcare system in WV. The WVNA recognizes the legal authority of healthcare employers to implement such policies.

Each employer must consider local factors and circumstances when developing and implementing such policies and we encourage healthcare systems to include the input of nurses and other healthcare workers as they proceed. Reliance on the available scientific evidence should be widely shared for education and reassurance, including data on the safety and efficacy of each COVID-19 vaccination, and this evidence should be referenced in answering employees’ specific questions or concerns.

With more than 4.55 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine having been administered worldwide and more than 355 million doses given in the United States, the WVNA supports and strongly encourages vaccination for the healthcare workforce and all eligible residents of the state. Vaccines offer a realistic method of mitigating risks of serious illness, hospitalizations, and death from COVID which is important to assure a hospital bed, and the necessary skilled staff, is available to deliver care whenever needed.