Could businesses mandate COVID-19 vaccine to employees?
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - More and more employers are considering mandating the vaccine. That is what a national business reporter is hearing a lot more of in Birmingham and around the country. The ground swell is starting to appear to take shape with mandating vaccines according to Ty West who is the senior editor with the American City Business Journals. West has talked with a lot of employment law attorneys who said back when the vaccine was first available, companies wanted to encourage their employees to get it, but now West says a few factors are pushing employers to possibly mandating the vaccine. One is the OSHA guidelines which gives a huge incentive to companies to meet the 100% vaccine mark within their organizations. West is also hearing other factors. If and when the vaccine gets full FDA approval, a lot of experts think thats going to be a big milestone thats going to say, alright were going to mandate it under emergency use authorization but once we get to the point where its fully authorized, were going to mandate it then, West said. More than 150 healthcare workers were fired or resigned recently at Houstons Methodist Hospital for refusing to take the vaccine. The hospital is one of the countrys first to mandate vaccines to employees. Earlier this month, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said employers can require employees to be vaccinated with some exemptions, but legal questions remain about how companies go about it. Well see what happens over the next few months. Copyright 2021 WBRC. All rights reserved.