The FDA approval also gives industry groups reason to encourage vaccinations for their members – and to lobby against legislation that could hamper those efforts. The United States Chamber of Commerce announced this month that it will require vaccines for its staff once the FDA has fully approved them. The Business Roundtable, an influential lobbying group, said on Monday it supported the mandates.
“Many companies have made the decision to impose vaccines on some or all of their employees, and we applaud their decision,” the group, led by Walmart chief executive Doug McMillon, said in a statement. “We also encourage policy makers, including at national and local levels, to support – not hinder – the ability of companies to make such a decision. “
At least three states – Montana, Texas, and Utah – that had banned vaccine requirements by law or executive order did so specifically because the three vaccines used in the United States were administered under emergency use authorizations, not full approval. Some companies, like Norwegian Cruise Line in Florida, have resisted such bans, but most have largely stayed out of the fray so far.
Over the past month, there have been signs that companies are showing an increased appetite for vaccine mandates.
Understanding the mandates of vaccines and masks in the United States
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- Vaccination rules. On August 23, the Food and Drug Administration fully approved Pfizer-BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine for people 16 years of age and older, paving the way for increased tenure in the public and private sectors. Private companies increasingly require vaccines for their employees. Such warrants are authorized by law and have been confirmed in court challenges.
- Mask rules. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in July recommended that all Americans, regardless of immunization status, wear masks in indoor public places in areas affected by epidemics, a reversal of guidelines it offered in May. . See where the CDC guidelines would apply and where states have instituted their own mask policies. The battle for masks has become controversial in some states, with some local leaders defying state bans.
- College and universities. More than 400 colleges and universities require students to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Almost all of them are in states that voted for President Biden.
- Schools. California and New York City have both introduced vaccination mandates for education staff. A survey released in August found that many American parents of school-aged children are opposed to mandatory vaccines for students, but were more in favor of mask mandates for students, teachers and staff who don’t. don’t have their vaccines.
- Hospitals and medical centers. Many hospitals and major health systems are requiring their employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19, citing an increase in the number of cases fueled by the Delta variant and stubbornly low vaccination rates in their communities, even within their hand -work.
- New York City. Proof of vaccination is required from workers and customers for indoor meals, gyms, shows and other indoor situations, although enforcement does not begin until September 13. Teachers and other education workers in the city’s vast school system will need to have at least one dose vaccine by September 27, with no possibility of weekly testing. Employees of the city’s hospitals must also get vaccinated or undergo weekly tests. Similar rules are in place for New York State employees.
- At the federal level. The Pentagon has announced that it will seek to make coronavirus vaccination mandatory for the nation’s 1.3 million active-duty soldiers “no later than” mid-September. President Biden announced that all federal civilian employees should be vaccinated against the coronavirus or undergo regular testing, social distancing, mask requirements and restrictions on most travel.
As of Aug. 7, the share of job postings requiring vaccinations was up 90% from the previous month, according to job search company Indeed. Those that require vaccinations, however, still only make up a small fraction of the overall lists.
FDA clearance could also simplify negotiations with unions, whose mixed stance on mandates has contributed to a class divide among workers. On Monday, Disney World said unions representing more than 30,000 employees had accepted a mandate, citing full FDA approval, which would require workers to be vaccinated by October 22.
But the Food and Commercial Workers International, a union that represents around 1.3 million workers in grocery stores, pharmacies and meat packing plants, on Monday warned against mandates that do not did not take employee concerns into consideration.
