Our statement on the Supreme Court vaccine mandate decisions

Vaccination is the most powerful tool we have to end the COVID-19 pandemic, to prevent more dangerous strains from developing, and to begin to restore our safety and normalcy. While the United States Supreme Court decision blocks federal vaccine mandates for nonmedical, private employers, we applaud those businesses that have put the health and safety of their employees and customers first by requiring vaccination and we encourage all other employers to follow suit.

We recognize and appreciate that the requirement for health care employers was upheld.  Kaiser Permanente was one of the first health care organizations in the U.S. to require its workforce to be vaccinated before it was mandated. As a health care organization, we have an obligation to our 12.5 million members and patients — and to our employees, physicians, and communities — to ensure their safety and to protect them from infection. We continue to urge and assist members of the community to step up and get their shots.

It is more important than ever that we all support vaccination and promote public health best practices such as mask wearing and social distancing to help us overcome this virus. Taking these actions will help protect everyone, especially our deeply dedicated, exhausted front-line health care workers.