Court Ruling Impacts Vaccination Rule at Winona Health

Alachua County

WINONA, Minn. (KWNO)-Two late-November court rulings have had a slight impact on COVID-19 vaccination rules at Winona Health.  

The rulings struck down a rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid that requires employees at healthcare settings that receive Medicaid funding to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The agency has temporarily suspended that rule as it appeals both court rulings.  

“They were saying 100% of people needed to [get vaccinated against COVID-19],” Winona Health President/CEO Rachelle Schultz said on KWNO’s In the Know Monday. “It was a lot stricter and if you didn’t meet their requirements we have the potential to lose our Medicare license which would put every hospital out of business.”  

She shared where the court rulings leave Winona Health’s vaccination policy. 

“We’re just back to our regular process which is [getting vaccinated] is still a requirement. We ask people to get a declination if they chose not to get the [vaccine] and then we move on,” said Schultz.  

Schultz tells KWNO that roughly 91% of Winona Health staff members have gotten vaccinated.  Winona Health, like many other healthcare providers, began requiring the COVID-19 vaccine in September. 

Schultz said Winona Health’s COVID-19 vaccine policy mirrors its flu vaccination policy.