CDC Director: Loss of Unvaccinated Health Care Workers Is a ‘Challenge’

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky during a hearing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on May 11, 2021. Greg Nash/Pool/Getty Images

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said COVID-19 vaccine mandates for health care workers will likely create staff shortages around the United States, echoing the recent warnings of some hospital chief executives.

“We have seen that these vaccine mandates get more people vaccinated,” Walensky said during a “Good Morning America” appearance on Sept. 27. “It absolutely creates a challenge. What I would say is [we need] to do some work ... to meet them where they are, to understand where their hesitancy is so we can get them vaccinated and get them back to work.”