The new mandate could take effect as soon as next month. Nursing homes are being singled out while hospitals, clinics, home health agencies and others that get Medicaid and Medicare funds were not threatened. Some nursing home administrators are worried the decision will cause workers to head for the exits at facilities already struggling to keep employees. Others have applauded Biden's decision, calling it a way to help protect elderly nursing home residents, who have fragile health. -GEG

Across the country, nursing homes are faced with a choice: mandate that staff members get vaccinated or lose funding.

President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that all nursing homes should require their staff members to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to continue receiving Medicare and Medicaid funding. The new mandate could take effect as soon as next month.

Some nursing home administrators are worried the decision will cause workers to head for the exits at facilities already struggling to keep employees. Others have applauded Biden's decision, calling it a way to help protect elderly nursing home residents, who are among the most vulnerable to severe effects of the virus.