Joint Commission approves COVID-19 vaccination standard for HCWs

Editor's Note

In response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) interim final rule regarding COVID-19 vaccinations for healthcare workers (HCWs), The Joint Commission has approved a new Infection Prevention and Control (IC) Standard IC.02.04.02 and new elements of performance, the regulator announced on April 27.

The new standard will take effect on July 1, 2022, for the following facilities:

• hospitals
• critical access hospitals
• ambulatory surgery centers
• home health agencies
• home infusion therapy facilities
• hospices.

The prepublication standards can be viewed on The Joint Commission’s announcement page below.