California Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced that the state will require healthcare workers to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot.
“BREAKING: California will require healthcare workers to get their booster. With Omicron on the rise, we’re taking immediate actions to protect Californians and ensure our hospitals are prepared. More to come in our official announcement tomorrow,” the Democratic governor tweeted.
Earlier this year, Newsom survived a recall election.
The state had already required people who work in healthcare to get vaccinated against the illness, according to the Associated Press.
The state of New Mexico has already imposed a booster mandate for hospital and congregate care facility workers, and for individuals who are employees of the office of the governor, though the deadline is not until Jan. 17. Except in the event they obtain an exemption, those individuals are required to get “a booster dose no later than January 17, 2022, or within four weeks of becoming eligible,” according to the order.
Vaccine mandates imposed by governments and businesses amid the coronavirus pandemic have proven to be controversial, and many Americans view them as an infringement upon individual liberty.
Even after getting fully vaccinated and receiving a booster shot, some people have still tested positive for COVID-19.
“COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing infection, serious illness, and death. Most people who get COVID-19 are unvaccinated. However, since vaccines are not 100% effective at preventing infection, some people who are fully vaccinated will still get COVID-19,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.