DHS will require covid vaccinations at some facilities, despite state law against mandates

By Tess Vrbin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

State-run medical facilities plan to require covid-19 vaccinations for their employees, in compliance with a federal regulation but contradicting a state law prohibiting such requirements.

Documents, provided to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Wednesday, show that the state Department of Human Services has notified employees in its health care facilities that they must comply with the federal vaccine mandate, which has been challenged in federal court.

State law dictates that any state-run agency get approval from the Arkansas Legislative Council to enact a vaccination requirement. Both Human Services Department and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences are in discussions with the council after announcing their mandates in the past week, their spokespeople said. Read more.