PIDS recently announced its strong support of universal masking for all school staff and students 2 years of age and older, as well as vaccination against COVID-19 for all eligible, in line with recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics for the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. The Society’s statement was issued July 28. PIDS also recently joined more than 50 health care professional societies and organizations to advocate for all health care and long-term care employers to require their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The groups’ July 26 joint statement described the call as the logical fulfillment of health care workers’ ethical commitment to put patients first and a necessary step to protect the vulnerable, including unvaccinated children and the immunocompromised. Media coverage of the vaccination statement included articles by The New York Times, NBC News, and Bloomberg.
Also in July, PIDS joined several leading organizations representing medical professionals working in ID, infection prevention, pharmacy, pediatrics, and long-term care in publishing a consensus statement recommending COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment for health care workers. Published July 13 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the paper was based on a review of evidence for the three COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the U.S., vaccination rates, and employment law. Forbes and The Hill, among other media outlets, covered the paper.
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