CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice is seeking a waiver from the Biden administration when it comes to vaccination mandates for some hospital workers.
Justice said during Monday’s coronavirus media briefing that he’ll seek a waiver for those who work at rural hospitals in the state. Justice said enforcement of a Biden mandate could increase staffing issues.
“What is that really going to do?” Justice asked. “It’s going to make it tougher and tougher and tougher for us to provide care in our rural hospitals.”
The governors of Virginia and Tennessee have made similar requests.
“It (the mandate) is only putting additional pressures. It is not saving lives. It is not helping people,” Justice said. “In this situation it is hurting us and hurting us in a bad way.”
A decision earlier this month by the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the mandate to stand. Workers at hospitals that treat Medicare or Medicaid patients must be fully vaccinated or receive an approved medical or religious exemption by Feb. 28.
West Virginia hospitals have been experiencing staffing problems with the ongoing pandemic. The National Guard is helping staff more than two dozen hospitals in the state.
State Coronavirus Czar Dr. Clay Marsh said Monday that Justice and other governors with rural hospitals are in a tough spot. He said they are trying to weigh the ‘risk-benefit’ ratio.
“Of course, we want to see as many people vaccinated and boosted as we possibly can but that balance between making sure we can keep the doors open in these rural hospitals and making sure that everybody is fully vaccinated and boosted is a difficult challenge in some areas,” Marsh said.
State Health Officer Dr. Ayne Amjad said one thing learned from the pandemic is there’s a need to shift when necessary.
“I think we have to make decisions that are best suited for areas such as West Virginia and rural areas—that maybe bigger places don’t see,” Amjad said. “These are just decisions we have to face and make.”
Justice said Monday the request to the Biden administration and CDC may be a long shot but he hopes it receives serious consideration.
Rt Value
Dr. Marsh did report Monday the Rt Value for West Virginia, which indicates the virus reproduction rate, has gone under 1 for the first time in weeks. It could be an indication that Omicron variant cases are beginning to peak in the Mountain State.
Marsh said more would be known later in the week.