Update: What are states doing with COVID-19 vaccine policies

Update: What are states doing with COVID-19 vaccine policies

MedExpert VaxNavigator Policy

By MedExpert | Dec 08, 2021

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On December 6th, 2021, New York City announced the plan to mandate vaccination by all 184,000 private businesses in New York City.  The new measure requires all employees receive at least one vaccine by December 27, 2021. (Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office plans to offer exemptions for private employees with valid medical or religious reasons.)

This is the first state entity that has moved forward with mandating vaccination for private employers since Biden’s November 5, 2021 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Emergency Temporary Standard on COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing ETS (https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus/ets2) was challenged in courts.

Currently two states have banned mandatory vaccinations and nine have placed some limitations. All other states are waiting in the wings until OSHA settles the ETS debate on Friday, December 10th, 2021.

Many private companies continue to provide their employees with COVID-19 management programs to assist with notifications, identification of who is working at a specific worksite versus remote and complying with state and federal safely regulations.

State legislatures continue to meet the COVID-19 challenges as employees return to work. Recently in California, Assembly Bill 654 (AB 654) and Senate Bill 606 (SB 606) were passed and require more employer COVID-19 notification precision and safety measures are being supported with increased penalties starting January 2022. 

AB 654 increases the reporting obligation to previously exempted organizations; Clarifies that reporting to public health agencies must occur within one (1) business day or 48 hours after reaching the outbreak threshold; and Amends notification requirements pertaining to exposure reporting, cleaning and disinfections plans, and employee benefits.

SB 606 creates new classes of health and safety violations and  dramatically increase liability for employers who do not comply with workplace safety and health programs by issuing fines in excess of $100,000 per violation.

MedExpert’s VaxNavigator has alleviated the COVID-19 burden for employers for more than a year; please contact MedExpert at covid@medexpert.com for assistance. MedExpert will work with your organization to comply with local, state, and federal requirements in this everchanging landscape.

 

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Here is a list of Private Employer State Vaccination Positions

Two (2) states have banned mandatory vaccinations for Private Employers

  1. Montana   (see the full text here:  (ban imposed by legislation )
  2. Tennessee ((ban imposed by legislation)

Nine (9) states have place limits on OSHA ETS. Most of the limitations require employers to provide reasonable accommodation to employees with religious or medical reasons for not getting vaccinated.  

  1. Alabama (limitations by legislation )
  2. Arkansas (limitations by legislation )
  3. Florida (limitations by legislation)
  4. Iowa (limitations by legislation )
  5. Kansas (limitations by legislation )
  6. North Dakota (limitations by legislation )
  7. Texas (limitations by executive order )
  8. Utah (limitations by legislation )
  9. West Virginia (limitations by legislation )

 

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