Since March 2020, the nation has worked to come up with a solution for the ongoing and unprecedented health crisis. Six months later, a potential solution appeared: vaccines. Soon after, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration approved the emergency use of clinically trialed vaccines to slow the spread and rate of infections.
New vaccines meant that we, as a nation, could start to reopen. And return to some sense of normalcy by eliminating the need for indoor masking, social distancing, and capacity limitations.
The Need for Mandates
According to many health experts, vaccines are the solution to the ongoing public health crisis. But, almost twelve months later, 40% of the population is still unvaccinated.
Here’s the thing ⎯ Covid-19 variants are more transmissible. And they’re also somewhat resistant to vaccines and do what earlier infections didn’t: infect children and cause breakthrough infections. As a result, states have more positive cases. Covid-related hospital admissions are up. And businesses are losing workers, affecting their day-to-day operations.
Vaccines Are Required
In July 2021, the president required all federal workers 1 to be vaccinated to keep their job. By definition, this includes any profession that works for the federal government, like politicians, judges, law enforcement officers, public health workers, and teachers. The president also strongly urged other private sectors to do more to encourage vaccinations amongst their workers. Under this new mandate, businesses could also ask for proof of vaccination from their workers and customers.
Mandates and Businesses.
Many businesses are worried about what this mandate means for their business as the pandemic continues. And there’s cause for their concern. Workers are essential for their operations. But, under the new mandate, workers have to get the vaccination to keep their job. Without any options to accommodate even religious exemptions, businesses are threatened with staff shortages.
To that, businesses hit hardest by the pandemic will take longer to recover. And, there are over 10 million jobs still open, and people are leaving their jobs at higher rates. Thus, a mandate may put businesses in a tough predicament.
There is a possible resolution. Under this mandate, private businesses with more than 100 employees can require vaccinations or weekly testing.
State Responses
Many states are challenging the vaccine mandate. Some states do this by either not enforcing the vaccine or proof of status requirements. Other states are legally fighting to block this mandate from being enforced.
For some states, the pushback is politically-driven. Other states feel the mandate is flawed. And that it discriminates against their unvaccinated workers. Thus, making it unconstitutional. And with the current worker shortage, they are concerned about the impact this mandate has on their industries.
Updates
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has temporarily suspended enforcing the president’s vaccination mandate. But only until the federal government rules in the ongoing legal case.