COVID-19 Vaccinations: Can Employers Require Them?
In a recent webinar, Waller's Aron Karabel joined Vanderbilt's David Aronoff, MD, to discuss COVID-19 vaccinations, including their efficacy and mandatory COVID-19 vaccines in the workplace.
As Aron described in this blog post recapping the webinar, "According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), an employer may require all employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccination."
But, requiring employees to provide proof of their vaccinations could implicate HIPAA, meaning healthcare providers will need employees’ written authorization to disclose COVID-19 vaccination records to employers.
Aron also noted that employers need to be ready to shift based on future guidance. "There will be an outreach that we haven't seen yet that will require employers to pivot," Karabel said, "We will be required to have a plan in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace."