JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As COVID-19 vaccines start making their way to more communities many are wondering if they’ll be required to get immunized by their employer.
Technically an employer can make it a requirement, but you can’t be forced to get the vaccine if you don’t want to. Question is, could you face consequences for not getting it if your employer requires it?
It’s a complicated question to answer.
Action News Jax was there as the first COVID-19 dose was administered Wednesday at Naval Hospital Jacksonville.
Intensive Care Unit Medical Director, Dr. Alexandra Perry, was the first person to get the shot.
“Hurts less than the flu shot,” she said right after the shot was administered.
The coronavirus shots are voluntary while it’s under an emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration.
But Action News Jax wanted to know if that’ll change.
“Does that mean it’ll become mandatory at some point?” asked reporter Lorena Inclán. That’s a great question I don’t have the answer to that,” said Dr. Michael Kaplan, medical director for immunizations at Naval Hospital Jacksonville.
According to Dr. Kaplan, the decision to make it mandatory if it comes to that would come from the Department of Defense.
But when it comes to jobs in the private sector, AARP said employers can make a vaccination requirement if you want to continue working there.
And in Florida, which is a right to work state, it means your employer can set working conditions.
“The right to work concept in my mind means you as the employee have the power but it doesn’t mean that at all it means that the employer has the power,” said Action News Jax Law & Safety Expert Dale Carson.
According to Carson, employers could also be subject to legislation as well.
“If the government says you have to do it and the employees are basically protected from litigation because they’re just going to say, ‘the U.S. government requires us to take the shot’,” said Carson.
The AARP said there are some things workers can do if they have a sincere reason to not get vaccinated.
You can seek a vaccine exemption on medical grounds, seek a vaccine exemption due to religious beliefs or ask for alternative accommodations such as wearing a mask or working from home.
Carson said in a way we’re already mandated to act now.
“We’re already doing this if someone tests positive, they can’t come back to the office until they have cleared that positive test,” said Carson.
According to AARP, the industry most likely to require COVID19 vaccinations is the health care field or other high-risk fields.
Cox Media Group
