Vaccine mandates? Medical groups say 'Yes' for frontline workers FacebookTwitterEmail FILE - In this June 22, 2021, file photo, nurse Jody Berry draws a syringe full of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic at Mother's Brewing Company in Springfield, Mo. (Nathan Papes/The Springfield News-Leader via AP)Nathan Papes/AP With surging COVID-19 numbers both in the Metro East and Western Central Illinois and across the nation, major medical groups have called for employers to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for healthcare workers. In a joint statement made Monday, more than 50 health and medical groups, including the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Public Health Association called for vaccines to be mandatory for frontline workers.