Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association

MHA Board Endorses Mandatory Vaccines for Healthcare Workers

Quotation marks with an EKG symbol

The MHA Board of Trustees unanimously endorsed the following statewide policy statement on July 29, 2021:

Policy Statement 

Massachusetts’ 70 hospitals and health systems are committed to delivering the safest possible care and supporting the health of our patients, our staff and our communities. The Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association has reviewed the scientific and public health literature and has concluded that mandatory vaccination of healthcare workers is in the best interest of the public health and safety of patients and healthcare workers.

The Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association and its Board of Trustees have stepped forward to adopt a statewide consensus policy endorsing mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for all Massachusetts hospital and health system employees. 

Each hospital and health system will establish its own policy and timeline for mandatory vaccination, exercising their independent judgment, based on their workforce and the needs of the communities they serve and will comply with all federal and state laws in granting appropriate medical and religious exemptions. 

Background 

Massachusetts hospitals and its healthcare workers have been at the forefront of the commonwealth’s remarkable COVID-19 response. The science is clear. Vaccination against COVID-19 is the most effective way to prevent its spread and to keep our patients, our staff, our families, and our communities safe. Since December 2020, hospitals have administered more than 2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and continue to play critical roles educating their communities about the safety, efficacy, and importance of COVID-19 vaccination. Massachusetts ranks second in the nation for the highest rate of fully vaccinated people. Our hospitals and healthcare workers have played an essential role achieving that position. 

As part of their mission, Massachusetts hospitals and health systems recognize that healthcare professionals hold a distinct responsibility to be vaccinated and endorse a statewide mandate for all hospital and health system workers to be fully vaccinated.