Recommendations for Industry

The Latest on the COVID-19 Vaccine

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With President-elect Joe Biden actively setting the priorities of his administration, it is evident that he will be prioritizing COVID-19 efforts, including that of “speeding up vaccines and pumping out financial help,” as stated by APNews. But even as the vaccine is rolled out, there remain a number of factors for consideration by businesses with the decision on whether or not to mandate that one’s employees be vaccinated and whether incentives should be provided.

These are critical questions as it is being found that there are even healthcare workers who are reluctant to be vaccinated. As noted by New York Times, some are concerned with the newness of the vaccines, some are worried about potential side effects, and others have lost trust in those urging them to take the shot: the federal government, politicians and their employers.

To help increase acceptance, some employers are offering cash, gift card, and time off incentives. In some cases, employees may have to fear for their jobs if they refuse the vaccine – and with the EEOC guidance allowing employees to require the vaccine, this may be allowable.

There also has been some talk of airlines, workplaces, and stadiums requiring vaccination proof prior to entering – which could be a key consideration for any employees who travel or visit other businesses.  

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to create complex questions and decisions, even with – and even because of – the roll out of vaccines. TAG recommends that you stay as informed as possible on all that you can – with TAG doing our part to continue to help keep your informed! – and, yes, we will say it again (and again and again) continue to maintain all the COVID-19 protections you have been implementing for months, and continue to encourage employees to not let up outside of work.

Vaccine FAQ

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Q. Where can I find out how my state is prioritizing vaccines – and when my employees can start to be tested?

A. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, states have had the ultimate say in most COVID-19-related rulemaking and recommendations (e.g. including stay-at-home orders, mask-wearing, business limitations, and essential worker distinctions). Directives for the roll-out of virus vaccines are no different. As explained by the National Governors Association (NGA), it is each state’s individual responsibility to “manag[e] the systems for ordering, distributing, and monitoring vaccines” – i.e., determine where your workers fall in the system’s priority of distribution. 

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Because of this, there can be a great deal of variation between states. Following are three sources we found, through which current information can be attained:

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• National Governors Association (NGA). has a comprehensive and regularly updated list, as its State COVID-19 Vaccine Resources webpage links to the vaccine public health webpage of every state and U.S. territory. While declared as being “not exhaustive of statewide actions,” it is as up to date on vaccine information as has been published by each state and territory.

• CDC. The CDC’s Vaccine page includes a section titled “See how and when you can get vaccinated.” Selecting your state or territory from the dropdown list links to the health department webpage to explain how it determines how vaccines are distributed.

• Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). In its “State Vaccine Resources” webpage, KFF discuss the state responsibility for vaccines, then includes a listing of states and territories with links to their vaccine pages.

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While some of these links are repetitive, we’ve included them all to ensure you are able to find the most current information available.