Week 44 Newsletter

(02/02/21) Why Are So Many Health-Care Workers Resisting the COVID Vaccine?
This article published in the New Yorker discusses reasons behind vaccine hesitancy among health care workers, where as many as one-third are reporting reluctance to receive a vaccine. Certified nursing assistants, emergency medical technicians, home health aides, and others are reporting substantially higher rates of reluctance compared to nurses and physicians.

(02/02/21) To Improve COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution, Engage Behavioral Health Providers
This post from the Health Affairs blog advocates for utilizing behavioral health providers to assist in both education and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. The post also calls for increased funding for behavioral health services, as ensuring patients with behavioral health conditions receive both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will require further effort.

(02/01/21) Houston Hospitals Need More Nurses to Help Care for COVID-19 Patients
Houston is hoping to recruit nurses to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a current nursing shortage and hospitals are asking for help from retired nurses.

(02/04/21) Lawmakers Reintroduce COVID-19 Telehealth Licensure Bill
A new bill submitted to the United States House of Representatives and the Senate seeks to allow health care providers to use telehealth to treat patients across state lines both throughout and for 6 months following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Current rules have been relaxed in some states during the public health emergency, but barriers due to differences between state and federal licensure requirements remain.

(02/03/21) Equity Metrics: Toward a More Effective and Inclusive Pandemic Response
This post from the Health Affairs blog discusses the importance of developing equity metrics for COVID-19 response efforts.

 (02/01/21) Public Health Systems Still Aren’t Ready for the Next Pandemic
This article evaluates the emergency preparedness of the US based on current COVID-19 response patterns. Some public health officials are concerned about the lack of preparedness, training, testing, and vaccine distributions for COVID-19. They are also concerned about how this may affect the country’s preparedness for another pandemic.

(02/05/21) Workers With COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects Deserve Time Off to Recover
This Health Affairs article advocates for health care workers with COVID-19 vaccine side effects to receive time off without having to use sick time.

(02/02/21) Frontline Nurses Talk with Psychologists in New Podcast on Coping with COVID-19 Related Trauma
This article discusses the mental stress and burnout that nurses are facing during the pandemic. The article highlights a podcast that was created to deliver advice, self-care tips, and strategies for overwhelmed nurses and health care workers.

(02/02/21) Research Shows COVID-19 Community Exposure and Black Race as Greatest Risk Factors for Positive Antibody Tests in Health Care Workers
New research from Emory University finds that the largest risk to health care workers is not workplace exposure, but community exposure. Data from the study supports that personal protective equipment and safety protocols in the workplace are effective to protect health care workers.

(02/03/21) The Pandemic’s Effect on the Health Care Workforce
A public health expert discusses how occupational licensing impacts the health workforce during COVID-19.