COVID-19 vaccine mandate: Who Needs Vaccinated?

While available vaccines have proven highly effective in controlling COVID-19 and its variants to date, the virus continues to spread — particularly among unvaccinated populations. In the face of flagging interest, officials across the U.S. have tried different approaches to increase vaccination rates. For example, officials launched incentive programs, stressed personal responsibility, deployed mobile vaccination units, and coordinated with corporate and community partners to encourage and effectuate vaccine uptake.

But having exhausted these avenues, and with the rise of more contagious COVID-19 variants, some officials are going a step further. Several states and municipalities have announced that, in essence, they are requiring certain categories of workers to be vaccinated. Generally, under these types of mandates, workers who decline vaccination must comply with measures that do not apply to their vaccinated counterparts, such as weekly COVID-19 testing and/or mask wearing. Depending on the jurisdiction and the sector involved, however, unvaccinated workers might not have such alternatives.

Federal and local vaccine mandates are slated to kick in shortly across the US. Los Angeles, for example, approved its strictest COVID-19 vaccination mandate yet, which will require people age 12 and older to be fully vaccinated before entering public indoor places, starting Nov. 4. While a vaccine mandate for domestic air travel is probably not near, in California, a judge ordered vaccine mandates for prison guards and staff. California Gov. Gavin Newsom says all students, elementary through high school, will be required to get the shot once it’s fully approved for those age groups. (Currently, Pfizer’s full approval extends to those 16 years and older.)

So far, the mandates are working as more people are getting vaccinated. For example, meat processor Tyson Foods now has a 91% vaccination rate among its employees. New York teachers have reached a 96% vaccination rate. But there’s also opposition from some groups: A New York state mandate that all health care workers be vaccinated, with no religious exemptions, has sparked multiple legal challenges and fear of staffing shortages. Some students have reportedly withdrawn from college due to the mandates.

Per President Biden’s announcement, federal government employees will be asked to attest to their vaccination status. Anyone who does not attest or is not vaccinated will be required to mask at all times, test one to two times per week, socially distance, and generally will not be allowed to travel for work. Relatedly, on August 25, 2021, and following the FDA’s approval of the Pfizer vaccine, the Department of Defense announced the release of a memo that “directs the secretaries of the military departments to immediately begin full vaccination of all members of the department on active duty or in the Guard or Reserve, who aren’t yet fully vaccinated against COVID-19.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that it will require more than 25,000 members of its healthcare workforce to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Members include NIH’s and Indian Health Service’s staff, contractors, trainees, and volunteers who serve in federally operated health care and research facilities or may come in contact with patients. The U.S. Surgeon General will require members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps to be vaccinated as well.

Announcing “a new plan to require more Americans to be vaccinated to combat those blocking public health,” Biden rolled out his administration’s Path Out of the Pandemic program, which aims to increase the vaccination rate by requiring shots across public and private sectors. Roughly 80 million Americans who are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine have not been vaccinated. And as of July, 99% of COVID deaths were among the unvaccinated, who also make up 97% of hospitalizations.

Here’s who’s required to be vaccinated under the plan:

Employers with 100 or more employees will be required to have their employees either be fully vaccinated or get tested weekly to come to work. Biden said the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration would implement the requirements that would affect more than 80 million workers.
Federal workers and employees of contractors that do business with the federal government will be required to be vaccinated.
The Department of Health and Human Services will require vaccinations in Head Start Programs, as well as schools run by the Department of Defense and the Bureau of Indian Education.
Workers in health care facilities that receive Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, including hospitals and home health agencies, will also have to be fully vaccinated.
Individuals applying to become lawful permanent US residents must be fully vaccinated, US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on Sept. 14.

The strategy also calls on state officials to make vaccinations mandatory for teachers and school staff. And the president called on entertainment venues to require proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter their facilities. The administration is also upping fines for those who fail to wear masks on airplanes, trains and buses.

Several companies have also announced plans for mandatory vaccinations.

Here are some of the companies that have announced vaccination requirements for employees: