However noble the goal of widespread vaccinations may be - for any dangerous or debilitating a disease - the immutable fact is that not everyone is going to comply. It may not be the world we want to live in but it is the one we have. It is a view too often ignored by people in government, especially political people in government. As an old lobbyist put it to me, "being good at politics means recognizing that you cannot take people where they will not go."
Very clearly, the health care workforce has determined they are free to choose between getting vaccinated and staying on the job. Quits massively accelerated in November, coincident with the announcement of mandated COVID-19 vaccinations for health care workers. Quits fell back in December but have resumed their upward path in January and February.
Job openings for Health Care and Social Assistance now stand at 2M - of which 2/3 or more are health care job openings. Hires are trying to keep up but no match for a workforce that has had enough of what looks like, everything.
Like so much of policy lately, vaccination mandates have backfired. Moreover, the persistent nature of the trend does not suggest rebellion by a group of Portland, OR anti-vaxers. We have heard nurses of child-bearing years have been a significant part of the refuseniks. There has not been much data presented that would suggest a threat to pregnancy or unborn children but we also have to be honest with ourselves and recognize that data in generally has been scant on a number of topics.
Sadly, operating data-lessly works well in politics, in science and medicine, not so much.
Emily Evans
Managing Director – Health Policy
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