Federal agency says employers can require workers to receive COVID-19 vaccine

A key federal agency said this week that employers can legally require their workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and prevent them from entering their workplace if they refuse.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EOC), in a directive released Wednesday, said requiring a test would not violate the 1990 U.S. Disability Act. Employers are prohibited by law from requiring medical examinations such as blood tests that seek information about an employee’s physical or mental condition. , but the COE said a COVID-19 vaccine does not fall into that category.

“If a vaccine is administered to an employee by an employer to protect against contracting COVID-19, the employer does not seek information about an individual’s current impairments or health condition and, therefore , it is not a medical examination, ”said the commission.

“There are many reasons why an employee has not been vaccinated, which may or may not be related to a disability,” he added.

Public health experts have said they predict employers will play a key role in helping bring the country to a critical degree of generalized immunity as vaccines become more widely available. Two vaccines, one from Pfizer / BioNTech and another from Moderna, have already been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is expected to give the green light for administration of the Moderna vaccine in the near future. next days.

Yet even with the permission of the EOC, employers should be wary of any information that can be gleaned from the screening questions, which the government says should be “job related and in accordance with business requirements.” .

Requiring employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine could play an important role in tackling what experts see as an alarming rate of skepticism about the shooting.

While vaccines are considered one of the most crucial tools to finally reduce the spread of disease, a Gallup survey last month found that only 58% of Americans said they would receive a vaccine.

To boost public confidence in a shot, Vice President Pence, second lady Karen penceKaren Sue Pence The Hill 12:30 p.m. Report: First White House Officials To Receive COVID-19 Vaccine Fauci Urges Americans To ‘Go To The Plate’ And Get Vaccinated Pence Receives Vaccine For coronavirus in front of the camera MORE and general surgeon Jerome AdamsJerome Adams Fauci Urges Americans To ‘Go To The Plate’ And Get Vaccinated Pence Receives Coronavirus Vaccine On Camera The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented By Mastercard – Congress Strives To Relieve COVID-19, PLUS omnibus agreement all received the Pfizer film live this week, and the president-elect Joe bidenJoe BidenUS To Close Two Russian Consulates On The Money: Congress Passes Bill To Avoid Closure As Coronavirus Talks Extend Into Weekend | Fight against Federal Reserve jeopardizes rescue talks Leading legal experts call for aggressive immigration actions READ MORE will do the same next week.

As vaccine deployments provide light at the end of the tunnel, the country is still heading for what is expected to be the deadliest phase of the virus before it becomes widely available in the spring and summer. Public health experts expect cases to rise after Thanksgiving and Christmas, and the country has at times started reporting more than 3,000 deaths in a single day.