Healthcare providers in Florida are in the midst of a battle between their state and the federal government. On one hand, the Biden administration requires healthcare workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 if they work in a center that receives federal money. The Supreme Court upheld this requirement last week. On the other hand, the Republican governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, has called this policy "madness" and signed a state law in November prohibiting employers from requiring COVID vaccines unless they offer extensive exemptions. So what are Florida hospitals supposed to do? Florida law also requires employers who make workers receive the COVID vaccine to provide the exemptions outlined by the Florida Department of Health rule.
The hospital chain Ascension announced a mandate over the summer, only to reverse policy in Florida following the November change in state law. Florida law prohibits vaccination mandates for private employers, unless several exemptions are also provided. These include medical or religious concerns, anticipated future pregnancy or pregnancy, and past COVID-19 infections.
