Companies in some sectors, such as health care, may feel legally compelled to maintain vaccine requirements even after the pandemic's public health and national emergencies end on May 11. But some employers may choose to drop the requirements because—as Susan Wiltsie, an attorney with Hunton Andrews Kurth in Washington, D.C., noted—vaccines are not as effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19 as public health officials originally predicted. In addition, a pending Supreme Court case may make it more difficult for employers to defend themselves against religious discrimination claims. There also may be pushback from employees if businesses try to maintain the requirements.
Other employers may continue to require or encourage vaccination to help keep their workforces safe and healthy, Wiltsie said.
As a practical matter, "[t]he analysis has changed because the information from public health authorities has changed," Wiltsie added. "That impacts whether employers choose to maintain mandates."
When Employers Might Choose to Keep Vaccine Requirements
Rules from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services still require Medicare- and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers to have mandatory vaccination policies.
The final Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule for managing COVID-19 in health care is undergoing White House review and isn't expected to include a vaccine requirement. "However, health care employers may decide to continue to enforce vaccine...
Ed Sheeran’s controversial US tour has sparked a wave of viral rumours. A false claim that his music was removed from Spotify racked up more than 3 million views on X, despite his his music remain...