This is Now (July 27, 2021)

As COVID infections locally and nationally continue to soar, Hawaii’s health centers are discussing the possibility of instituting vaccine mandates for staff members. Hilton Raethel, the president and CEO of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, said hospitals are having “substantive and serious discussions” about whether vaccines should be required for all health care workers. He added that a climbing positivity rate has many in the industry concerned. On Monday, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced a vaccine mandate for its medical employees. It’s the first federal agency to require health care workers to get COVID vaccines. The mandate applies to Tripler Army Medical Center, where 80% of 1,400 health care workers are vaccinated. The remaining 20% have eight weeks to get the shot.