NEWARK — The Delaware Nurses Association released a policy statement Thursday supporting COVID-19 vaccinations for all individuals.

DNA said it is backing policies that mandate that “all individuals receive immunizations against vaccine-preventable disease according to the best and most current evidence outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice,” in line with the American Nurses Association’s position statement on immunizations.

Due to highly contagious variants, including the delta variant, and significant numbers of unvaccinated people, COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths are once again rising throughout the U.S.

In Delaware, there have been increased new positive cases weekly. DNA strongly recommends that all nurses, health care workers and the public be vaccinated against COVID-19, the statement said. The association does not support any exemptions, other than for medical contraindications to be vaccinated against the virus.

“As cases, hospitalizations, and deaths increase again, we must continue to lead the way, guided by science, ethics, compassion, and professional commitments,” said Christopher E. Otto, executive director of DNA. “We also announce the addition of our association to the Joint Statement in Support of COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates for All Workers in Health and Long-Term Care, released earlier this week.

“Nurses are the most trusted and largest of all licensed health professionals. We possess an ethical and professional obligation to those we serve to first do no harm and provide care and knowledge aligned with the best available evidence. We owe these same duties to each other and ourselves.”