VA begins 'mandatory counseling' for unvaccinated employees

The Department of Veterans Affairs has begun counseling employees who have yet to get vaccinated against COVID-19. 

According to Military Times, the VA said Thursday that it has already begun potential administrative actions against employees who didn't meet the agency's deadline to provide proof of vaccination, despite having months to do so. 

The VA Secretary Denis McDonough said about 70% of the VA's employees have provided accurate paperwork showing they are fully vaccinated.  

McDonough went on to say that the remaining 30% who haven't been vaccinated will be automatically contacted by supervisors with the VA to discuss further actions. 

"The process starts with counseling, and if we get to it, it ends with separation," he told reporters. "But there are a lot of steps along the way."

"We have a responsibility to protect the health of the veterans who are coming to us for their care. And I believe that in certain circumstances, unvaccinated employees pose a serious risk to the health of our veterans," McDonough continued. 

Despite requiring mandatory counseling for the unvaccinated, McDonough said potential employee terminations are still weeks away.