An employer's guide to COVID-19 vaccines

Employers choosing to make vaccines mandatory should be prepared for an increased amount of employees claiming that getting vaccinated is against their beliefs. (Image: Shutterstock)

Last Monday, Moderna announced that its COVID-19 vaccine was 94.5% effective. Pfizer and BioNTech boasted similar results earlier this month. It is apparent that we are on the verge of seeing a vaccine by early next year, even though the vaccines must first be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and be available to the masses. However, it is not too early for employers to consider how to approach vaccinations and develop a policy to add to the company’s existing COVID-19 procedures.

Related: Can employers require employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine?

The biggest question on everyone’s mind is whether employers can make vaccinations mandatory—and what happens to the inevitable objector. While legally, employers can require employees to get vaccinated, there are several considerations.