To help prevent the virus from spreading further and to save lives, the United States is launched multiple campaigns to encourage states, cities, and local health departments to ramp up their efforts to vaccinate everyone who needs to be vaccinated against the disease and to educate those who haven’t been vaccinated against it. Rewards such as scholarships and lotteries were offered as incentives to convince people to get vaccinated. However, as COVID-19 cases surge again, the new approach to vaccines is making them mandatory.
To put an end to COVID outbreaks, New York City is now requiring everyone who wants to go to any indoor venues to provide proof of at least one dose of the vaccine. Vaccination will be required for places such as theaters, restaurants and even gyms. New York City mayor has also decided to mandate that all city workers and contractors get vaccinated against COVID-19, or deal with weekly testing.
Maryland and Virginia have also announced that they will be implementing mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for all state employees, effective immediately. Workers who cannot show proof of vaccination will have to agree to regular testing. Meanwhile, California made vaccinations mandatory for all health care workers by September 30, without offering any alternatives.
A national vaccination mandate cannot be enacted, but the White House has expressed its support to local decisions. “Our message is quite simple. We support these vaccination requirements to protect workers, communities and the country,” declared Jeff Zients White House coronavirus response coordinator.
The mandates have also received some negative reactions from those who are against the vaccine and legal action was taken by some. However, according to the Department of Justice and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, businesses will likely be able to exclude employees who refuse to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
