¾ÅÓÎÌåÓý

Skip to main content
You have permission to edit this article.
Edit

Weather Alert

Weather Alert

...HEAT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT /8 PM EDT/ FRIDAY...

* WHAT...Daily Heat index values up to 106.

* WHERE...All of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western
Kentucky, and southeast Missouri.

* WHEN...Until 7 PM CDT /8 PM EDT/ Friday.

* IMPACTS...Prolonged exposure to hot temperatures and high humidity
may cause heat illnesses.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of
the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose
fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning
or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and
heat stroke.

&&

VA mandates COVID-19 vaccination for health care workers

  • 0
va marion

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs on Monday became the first major federal agency to require health care workers to get COVID-19 vaccines.

The decision comes as the aggressive delta variant spreads and some communities report troubling increases in hospitalizations among unvaccinated people.

The VA's move came on a day when nearly 60 leading medical and health care organizations issued a call for health care facilities to require their workers to get vaccinated.

At the VA, vaccines will be now mandatory for specified health care personnel -- including physicians, dentists, podiatrists, optometrists, registered nurses, physician assistants, and others who work in departmental facilities or provide direct care to veterans.

The Department of Veterans Affairs issued a statement to News 3 regarding the new mandate.

This is an action that the Department of Veterans Affairs decided to take as they are charged with protecting some of our most vulnerable Americans, those who have fought for and served our nation. And it’s in line with vaccinate mandates that other health care systems and hospitals have implemented. Today, the American Medical Association, American Nurses Association, American College of Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, Association of American Medical Colleges, and National Association for Home Care and Hospice endorsed mandating COVID-19 vaccination for health care workers.

Since the pandemic began, we have tragically lost tens of thousands of Veterans to this deadly disease. This action is aimed at ensuring that we are doing everything we can to protect our veterans and the system that serves them.

Those in violation of this Directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from Federal service, to be applied with all transparency and due process.

Dept. of Veteran's Affairs

Coronavirus Resources

  • Are you fully vaccinated? for guidance from the CDC.
  •  for the latest information from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
  • Looking for local information on the COVID-19 vaccine? .
  • for News 3 WSIL's latest coronavirus coverage.