Vaccines

On the latest episode of our podcast, Business Better, we discuss the current array of federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates: their effectiveness and requirements, the scope of their coverage, and what employers should consider in responding to them. This recording took place on December 1st and does not capture changes which have taken place after this…

The Biden Administration’s action plan to overcome the pandemic saw major setbacks this week as courts around the country halted the administration’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies for federal contractors and subcontractors and health care workers.

Specifically, on September 24, 2021 the Biden Administration issued guidance to supplement a previously issued Executive Order, in effect requiring…

The Biden Administration has announced vaccine mandates for certain federal contractors and subcontractors, employees of large, private employers, and certain health care workers, all of which are slated to take effect January 4, 2022, with some steps required no later than December 5, 2021.

With the deadlines quickly approaching, review the full Alert from Ballard’s…

The deadline for covered federal contractors to comply with the vaccine mandate was extended from December 8 to January 4.  For more information on the mandate, read our September post.  The Safer Federal Workforce Task Force also updated its FAQs on the mandate to address coverage for affiliated entities.

This extension of the deadline…

On Thursday, November 4, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced an Interim Final Rule requiring that all staff employed by covered Medicare- and Medicaid-certified providers must receive a first COVID-19 vaccine dose by December 5 and have received both doses of a two-vaccine series by January 4 unless they have been granted…

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (”OSHA”) has issued its long-awaited Emergency Temporary Standard requiring employers with 100 or more employees to mandate that each worker be fully vaccinated, or subject to at least weekly testing, by January 4. Public employers are not covered by OSHA and will not be subject to the rule.  In…

A three-judge panel for the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed the lower court’s order denying plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction against Maine’s Covid-19 vaccine mandate requiring healthcare workers to be vaccinated. Plaintiffs in the case had argued that exceptions to the mandate must be permitted for religious objections. Judge…

On Tuesday evening, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sent its proposed vaccine mandate to the White House for final review.  OSHA’s proposed rule was drafted in response to President Biden’s September 9 request that OSHA require companies with 100 or more employees to mandate coronavirus vaccinations or weekly testing. Based on the President’s request…

As we previously posted, the City of Philadelphia is mandating healthcare workers and those who work, volunteer, or attend classes at higher education institutions in the city receive the COVID-19 vaccine.  The initial deadline for all covered individuals to be vaccinated or have a medical or religious exemption was October 15, 2021.

On October…

The White House has announced that OSHA will develop a new temporary emergency standard requiring private employers of 100 or more employees to mandate full vaccination or weekly testing for employees.  In addition, the President reportedly will sign an Executive Order expanding the requirements for federal contractors to vaccinate their employees which may reach contractors…