A Louisiana federal judge has temporarily blocked CMS’ COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers. Judge Terry Doughty has issued a preliminary injunction halting the mandate, after Republican officials from 14 states filed a lawsuit challenging the mandate. In the ruling, Judge Doughty reminded the health care community that the final fate of mandated COVID-19 vaccination will be “ultimately be decided by a higher court.”

Many health systems have issued statements in support of vaccinating health care workers, but express concern on the potential that mandated vaccination could have on a worsening staffing shortage across care delivery settings. CMS has released a memorandum announcing that it will suspend enforcement of mandated vaccination while the court-ordered injunctions are in place.