covid-19 vaccine News

U.S. Updates Guidance on COVID Vaccine Mandates, Incentives, Privacy in Workplace

Federal employment laws do not prevent an employer from requiring all employees physically entering the workplace to be vaccinated for COVID-19, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has affirmed. Also, employers may offer incentives for employees to get vaccinated and …

Employees Sue Texas Hospital Network to Halt Vaccine Mandate

A group of 117 healthcare workers at a Texas hospital filed a lawsuit in state court against their employer’s mandate requiring all staff to get COVID-19 vaccinations, Washington Post reported on Saturday. Employees of Houston Methodist Hospital said in the …

Alabama Prohibits Businesses, Agencies From Requiring Vaccine Passports

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey on Monday signed a bill that prohibited private businesses and public institutions from requiring COVID-19 “vaccine passports” to access services or refusing those not inoculated against the coronavirus. “I’ve signed SB 267! Since the development of …

Relaxed Mask Rules Make Some Retail Workers Nervous

An abrupt relaxation of mask policies has left workers at some retail and grocery stores reeling as they try to sort out what the new environment means for their own safety and relationship with customers. Kroger, the country’s largest grocery …

Starr’s Greenberg Initiates Group Letter Urging Biden to Speed Global Vaccination Effort

A group of 16 international business and policy leaders today published an open letter to U.S. President Joseph R. Biden calling on him to “demonstrate decisive U.S. leadership now” to combat increasingly deadly Covid-19 outbreaks in Latin America, Europe and …

EU Summit to Discuss Vaccine Patent Waiver Proposed by U.S.

BRUSSELS – European Union leaders said Thursday that in the wake of the U.S. backing patent waivers for COVID-19 vaccine technology, the 27-nation bloc immediately will start discussing whether they should join such a move. The leaders’ first opportunity to …

WHO Says China’s Vaccine Prevents COVID But Questions Data on Side Effects: Reuters

WHO experts have voiced “very low confidence” in data provided by Chinese state-owned drugmaker Sinopharm on its COVID-19 vaccine regarding the risk of serious side-effects in some patients, but overall confidence in its ability to prevent the disease, a document …

Workers Refusing Covid Vaccine Could Lose Their Jobs

Texas nurse Jennifer Bridges plans to go to work on June 7, like it’s any other day. The only difference is, when she gets there she expects to be fired. That day is the deadline her employer, Houston Methodist hospital, …

Biden Administration Considering Intellectual Property Rights Waiver for COVID Vaccines

The White House is considering options for maximizing global production and supply of COVID-19 vaccines at the lowest cost, including backing a proposed waiver of intellectual property rights, but no decision has been made, press secretary Jen Psaki said on …

Jabs on the Job: Companies, Unions Offering COVID-19 Vaccines

Marie Watson wanted to be among the first in line when she and other essential workers became eligible for the coronavirus vaccine — and with good reason. The maintenance parts buyer for a Mission Foods tortilla plant in Pueblo, Colorado, …