Legal Focus

As we are quickly approaching the one-year anniversary of the introduction of Covid-19 in the United States in February 2020, federal regulatory agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continue to work closely with pharmaceutical companies who are in the process of developing a vaccine to assist with the development and implementation. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been approved by the FDA and are currently in the early stages of distribution, while other pharmaceutical companies, are close to receiving approval—meaning mass distribution of the vaccine is around the corner. However, due to the anticipated limited initial supply of the vaccine, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended administering the vaccine in phases based on priority, with hospital workers and residents of long-term-care facilities recommended to be first. Ultimately, each state will determine who will be in a particular phase of the rollout, but in many states it is likely that those who work in transportation, including bus drivers, will be included in an early phase. Now that the time has come that a vaccine will be available for certain employees, many employers are beginning to wonder if they should require their employers to get vaccinated. Contractors interested in requiring drivers to be vaccinated should read further for additional considerations.

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