Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
DeSantis Threatens $5,000 Fine For Each Employee Facing Vax Mandates
Tampa Bay Times: DeSantis Threatens ‘Millions’ In Fines For Cities And Counties For Vaccine Mandates
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Florida will fine local governments $5,000 for each employee who is required to be vaccinated, threatening some cities and counties with millions of dollars in penalties for adopting strict vaccine “mandates.” During a Monday news conference in Alachua County, DeSantis vowed to fight that city’s requirement that employees be vaccinated by the end of the month or be fired. (Mower, 9/13)
Health News Florida: Biden Vaccination Requirement Spurs Hospital Staffing Worries
Two major Florida hospital systems say they will carry out a plan announced Thursday by the Biden administration to require hospital workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 --- but concerns remain about how it could affect staffing. Tampa General Hospital and the Tampa Bay region’s BayCare system said they will take steps to comply, but BayCare CEO Tommy Inzina issued a “letter to the community” that described a “conundrum” that hospitals have faced because of severe staffing shortages during the pandemic. (Saunders, 9/13)
In updates on vaccine mandates in New York —
The Wall Street Journal: NYC’s Covid-19 Vaccination Proof Mandate For Restaurants And Dining: What To Know
Starting this week, a Covid-19 vaccination may determine where you can go out to eat. New York City on Monday began enforcing its vaccination requirements for restaurant patrons and employees. While other cities such as San Francisco are also requiring shots to eat indoors, some states, including Florida and Texas, are banning vaccine passports. Some restaurateurs say the vaccination proof issue creates new challenges as the industry works to move beyond the pandemic. (Haddon, 9/13)
CNN: 17 Healthcare Professionals, Citing Religious Reasons, Seek To Prevent New York State From Enforcing Vaccine Mandate
Seventeen Catholic and Baptist medical professionals who say they oppose getting the Covid-19 vaccine for religious reasons are seeking to prevent New York State from enforcing its vaccine mandate, according to a federal complaint filed in New York on Monday. The professionals -- nine doctors, five nurses, a nuclear medicine technologist, a physician liaison and a rehabilitation therapist -- are seeking a judgment declaring the mandate "unconstitutional, unlawful, and unenforceable," according to the lawsuit. (Moshtaghian and Holcombe, 9/14)
Also —
Capital Gazette: Navy Football Assistant Billy Ray Stutzmann Fired For Refusing To Be Vaccinated Against COVID
Navy football assistant coach Billy Ray Stutzmann was fired Monday for failing to comply with an athletic department mandate that all employees get vaccinated against COVID-19. Stutzmann posted the news to his Twitter account Monday and thanked Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo for the opportunity. Stutzmann, who was in his third season with the program, cited religious reasons for declining the coronavirus vaccine. (Wagner, 9/13)
CNN: Sylvain Lefebvre: The Columbus Blue Jackets Fires Newly Appointed Assistant Coach
The Columbus Blue Jackets have fired recently hired assistant coach Sylvain Lefebvre after he decided to not get vaccinated against Covid-19. The NHL team said on Monday that the decision to let Lefebvre go was because he would not be able to "perform the duties required of him given current NHL protocols." According to the current National Hockey League's Covid-19 protocols, every club's coaching staff and operations staff are required to be fully vaccinated. Players are not mandated to be vaccinated but those that are not face much stricter protocols than those that are. (Close, 9/14)
