(Wallingford, CT)–The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) is amending its statewide policy on mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for hospital and health system employees and clinical staff to include requiring a booster dose.
“Hospitals are leaders in Connecticut’s response to the pandemic and we believe supporting a mandatory booster dose is in further support of public health and the safety of our patients and workforce,” observed Jennifer Jackson, CEO of the association. “Recent data demonstrate that a booster dose improves vaccine effectiveness against Omicron and experience in our hospitals shows an extremely low number of boosted hospitalized patients.”
In June 2021, CHA was among the first hospital associations in the nation to endorse mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 for hospital and health system employees.
Connecticut hospitals have been united in an aggressive response to the pandemic, caring for more than 47,000 COVID-19 patients, standing up mass testing centers, educating the public about COVID-19 infection and prevention, and leading the successful effort to administer hundreds of thousands of doses of vaccine.
Updated Statement of Policy
In furtherance of a commitment to patient safety and aligned with hospitals’ ongoing role in protecting public health from COVID-19, the Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) is endorsing a booster dose in addition to a COVID-19 vaccine primary series for hospital and health system employees and clinical staff as part of its statewide mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy.
About CHA
Since 1919, the Connecticut Hospital Association has advanced the health of individuals and communities by leading, representing, and serving hospitals and related healthcare organizations that are accountable to the community and committed to health improvement. Through state and federal advocacy, CHA represents the interests of Connecticut’s hospitals on key healthcare issues in the areas of quality and patient safety, access and coverage, workforce, public health and health equity, and sustainable financing.