Tag: mandatory

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U.S. academics union says Covid case surge in youngsters led to again necessary photographs

U.S. teachers union says Covid case surge in kids led to back mandatory shots

A healthcare worker administers a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine to a student during a ‘Vax To School’ campaign event at a high school in the Staten Island borough of New York, U.S., on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021.

Jeenah Moon | Bloomberg | Getty Images

A recent surge of Covid cases in kids across the U.S. led the nation’s second-largest teachers union to back vaccine mandates for educators as schools prepare for in-person learning this fall, said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.

“This is what really scares me: in the last three weeks, we’ve gone from the number of kids testing positive from 20,000 to 40,000 to 72,000,” she said, citing data from July. The number of kids who tested positive for Covid during the week ended Aug. 5 was even higher at 93,824, according to the most recent data from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Weingarten, who was speaking in an interview Wednesday with CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” said schools should give teachers time off to get the shots and allow for medical and religious exemptions for those who don’t want them.

“Kids under 12 can’t get vaccines, this delta virus is very transmissible, so we need to be in school for our kids, with our kids, but we need to keep everyone safe,” Weingarten said. “And that means vaccines are the single most important way to do it, and the second way to do it is masks.”

Approximately 90% of teachers are already vaccinated, Weingarten said during the interview, citing White House data. But with many children still ineligible for vaccination, Weingarten stopped short of advocating for an immunization requirement for students under 12.

As the delta variant surges, states have begun enhancing their Covid mitigation protocols to prevent the virus from spreading among faculty and students. On Aug. 4, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker introduced a mask mandate for all state students regardless of their vaccination status.

New Jersey also issued a mask mandate for all students and staff on Friday, and Louisiana’s mask mandate for public indoor settings includes students from kindergarten through college.

Becky Pringle, president of the largest U.S. teachers’ union, the National Education Association, told the New York Times last week that any vaccine mandate should be negotiated at the local level.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Health

College students protest necessary Covid vaccinations at faculties

Students protest mandatory Covid vaccinations at colleges

Across the country, a growing number of colleges and universities have said vaccinations will be mandatory for the fall of 2021.

Now, hundreds of thousands of students will be required to get the Covid-19 vaccine, whether they want to or not.

For the most part, students will get vaccinated if it means campus life can return to a pre-pandemic “normal” by September. But not everyone feels that way.

Roughly 88% of college students plan to get the coronavirus vaccine and nearly 3 in 4 students believe vaccinations should be mandatory, according to a recent survey of more than 1,000 college students by College Finance.

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However, Jackie Gale, a rising sophomore at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, is not one of them.

For religious reasons, Gale has never been vaccinated. The 19-year-old attended Alabama public schools and received a religious exemption from the Alabama state health department. 

The University of Alabama-Birmingham also exempted Gale from its vaccine requirements during the 2020-2021 school year but won’t apply the same exemption for the upcoming year, according to her lawyer.

“If they decide to give her a religious exemption, that will be the end of it,” said Hiram Sasser, executive general counsel for First Liberty Institute, based outside of Dallas. “If not, we will have to communicate with them through a lawsuit.”

“In compliance with applicable law, we do provide religious exemptions for immunization requirements,” a spokeswoman for the school said. The university does require students provide proof of immunization against certain diseases, although there is currently no Covid vaccine mandate for the fall semester.

For those enrolled in school, there are many vaccination requirements already in place to prevent the spread of diseases such as polio, diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough.

All 50 states have at least some vaccine mandates for students attending public schools and even those attending private schools. In every case, there are medical exemptions and, in some instances, there are religious or philosophical exemptions, as well.

Rutgers University, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, said it will now mandate Covid vaccinations for its 71,000 students.

“Adding Covid-19 vaccination to our student immunization requirements will help provide a safer and more robust college experience for our students,” Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway said in a statement.

“We are committed to creating a safe campus environment in fall 2021, and to support the health and safety for all members of the Rutgers community, the university has updated existing immunization requirements for students to include the Covid-19 vaccine,” a spokesman for the university added.

Sara Razi, a 21-year-old junior at Rutgers, is challenging that requirement.

“I’m not anti-vax, I’m anti-mandate,” she said. “My education should not be restricted based on my personal decision to receive the Covid-19 vaccination.

Vaccinations are a personal and a private choice and students should have the right to choose whether or not they want to take a vaccine that is experimental.

Sara Razi

student at Rutgers University

“Vaccinations are a personal and a private choice and students should have the right to choose whether or not they want to take a vaccine that is experimental,” Razi added. “Therefore, a public institution like Rutgers should not have the right to dictate a student’s personal decisions.”

Razi, who has received other immunizations in the past, said she hasn’t decided yet whether she will get a Covid shot. In the meantime, she will be participating in a rally on campus, protesting the school’s mandate.

The political science major from Freehold, New Jersey, is also a member of Young Americans for Liberty, a libertarian group active on nearly 400 college and university campuses, including Rutgers.

Rutgers has said it will grant exemptions, for medical or religious reasons, although requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. 

“There are a lot of people who are hesitant, that doesn’t mean they don’t want to get the vaccinated,” said Brittany Kmush, assistant professor of public health at Syracuse University.

“This pandemic has become so politicized and it’s really unfortunate that health outcomes have been tied to political parties,” she added.

Colleges need to offer information and education so families can have their concerns addressed. “Just the opportunity to listen to people and give them a place to voice their concerns,” Kmush said, “that would be helpful.”

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Covid vaccines more and more obligatory at schools this fall

Covid vaccines increasingly mandatory at colleges this fall

The number of colleges and universities where students have to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 is suddenly increasing.

In the past few days, Duke University, Brown, Northeastern University, University of Notre Dame, Syracuse University and Ithaca College announced that students returning to campus this fall must be fully vaccinated before the first day of class.

Cornell University, Rutgers University, Nova Southeastern University, Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island, Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, and St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas have also announced vaccinations for autumn 2021 will be mandatory.

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More institutions are likely to follow, according to Lynn Pasquerella, president of the Association of American Colleges and Universities.

“Medical and religious exceptions are taken into account, but our locations and classrooms are expected to be predominantly vaccinated, which greatly reduces the risk of infection for everyone,” Cornell President Martha Pollack and Provost Michael Kotlikoff said in a statement.

Across the country, campuses struggled to stay open last year as fraternities, sororities, and off-campus parties suddenly spiked coronavirus cases among students. Meanwhile, students overwhelmingly declared distance learning to be a mediocre substitute for teaching.

As eligibility for Covid vaccines expands to include people 16 and older, schools need to consider how a vaccine mandate can help keep higher education back on track, Pasquerella said.

For those enrolled in school, there are already many vaccination requirements in place to help prevent the spread of diseases such as polio, diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough.

All 50 states have at least some immunization mandates for children who attend public schools and even children who attend private schools and daycare. In each case there are medical exceptions, and in some cases there are also religious or philosophical exceptions.

“Adding Covid-19 vaccination to our student vaccination requirements will help provide our students with a safer, more robust college experience,” said Jonathan Holloway, president of Rutgers, in a statement.

At Rutgers, students can apply for a vaccination waiver for medical or religious reasons, and students participating in completely remote programs do not need to be vaccinated.

Still, the hesitation of the vaccine remains a powerful force, especially among parents.

According to a poll by ParentsTogether, a national advocacy group, in March, only 58% of parents or caregivers said they would vaccinate their children against Covid, although 70% of parents said they would vaccinate themselves.

According to ParentsTogether, low-income households and minority groups were even less likely to vaccinate their children.

Other studies have shown that blacks and Latinos are more skeptical about vaccines than the entire US population due to historical abuse in medicine. Racial differences in vaccine distribution have also been observed in the US

“Colleges need to be one step ahead and think about how this will play out,” said Bethany Robertson, co-founder and co-director of ParentsTogether.

“We need to start the conversation with parents now to build trust and understanding of how vaccinating children against Covid-19 will protect their health, the health of their families and the health of our communities,” said Robertson.

However, in addition to students, parents, and community members, schools must also weigh the interests of faculty, staff, lawmakers, and trustees, Pasquerella said.

“It’s complicated,” she said. “No matter what decision you make, one group will ultimately be dissatisfied.”

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Business

United Airways CEO needs to make Covid vaccines necessary for workers

United Airlines CEO wants to make Covid vaccines mandatory for employees

A health care professional wears personal protective equipment (PPE) during a United Airlines Covid-19 test pilot program at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, the United States, on Monday, November 16, 2020.

Angus Mordant | Bloomberg | Getty Images

United Airlines CEO wants Covid-19 vaccines to be mandatory for employees and encourages other companies to do the same.

This attitude is different from other airlines and companies in other sectors such as retail and auto manufacturing.

“The worst thing I think I’ll ever do in my career are the letters I wrote to the surviving family members of employees we lost to the coronavirus,” CEO Scott Kirby said Thursday in an employee’s town hall, a transcript of which has been verified by CNBC. “Because I have confidence in the safety of the vaccine – and I recognize this is controversial – I think it is right for United Airlines and other companies to require the vaccines and make them mandatory.”

United had more than 60,000 active U.S. employees as of late 2020 and has sent recall notifications to around 17,000 other workers whose jobs were cut last year.

Kirby acknowledged the logistical challenges of vaccinating staff.

Airline employees are considered important workers and will likely receive the vaccine in front of many people. But the rollout so far has been slow and chaotic as the nation ran after the goals.

Airline executives have said widespread vaccination will help revive demand for air travel as airlines grapple with losses running into billions.

“I don’t think United can get away with it and realistically be the only company that needs vaccines and makes them mandatory,” he said. “We need some others. We need some others to show leadership. Especially in the healthcare industry.”

The staff note said it is working with government officials and health care providers to set up vaccine distribution centers at some of its major hubs.

Some employees have been reluctant to take vaccines.

“It’s certainly a touchy subject,” said Michael Klemm, president of the International Association of Engineers and Aerospace Workers, District 141, who represents United’s fleet and passenger services staff, in an email. “We have received some frustrations from members who do not want to take the vaccine and concerns from members who do not want to work with someone who is not taking it.”

Klemm said the union members could file a complaint about disciplinary measures resulting from their refusal to be vaccinated. If they refuse to be vaccinated because of a religious belief or disability, they can file complaints with the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

United Flight Attendants’ union, the Association of Flight Attendants, said its focus is on ensuring vaccine access for crew members.

“Right now, flight attendants are at different levels of access in each state,” AFA spokeswoman Taylor Garland said in a statement. “We need a federal approach that prioritizes flight attendants as the essential workforce that facilitates international trade.”

Other airlines have not announced plans to prescribe vaccines.

Southwest Airlines said last week that it “currently” does not require employees to receive Covid-19 vaccines, but has strongly encouraged employees to do so.

American Airlines is taking a similar approach, and announced to staff last week, “We do not plan to require our team members to receive the vaccine unless vaccinations are ultimately required to travel to specific destinations.”

Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines said it is “working actively with all states to understand how Delta employees are prioritized in the initial distribution of vaccines.”

The Atlanta-based airline has encouraged employees to get vaccinated. On Wednesday, the company told flight attendants that their pay would be protected if they responded to a vaccine that prevented them from working and that they would receive an additional six hours of pay after receiving the second dose of the vaccine as seen by CNBC.

United in a staff note this week urged employees to get vaccinated as soon as possible and not wait for guidance from the airline.

Some companies are trying to convince workers to get the vaccine by offering additional wages. Yogurt and food company Chobani said it will give employees in its manufacturing facilities and offices up to six hours of paid time to get the two vaccinations.

So far, some retailers like Aldi, Lidl and Dollar General have announced similar plans to offer additional payment. Aldi said it would also like to open on-site vaccination clinics in its warehouses and offices to make it easier for workers to get the shots and remove the barriers to childcare or finding transportation.

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Business

Ex-CDC chief Dr. Tom Frieden on obligatory Covid vaccine passports

Ex-CDC chief Dr. Tom Frieden on mandatory Covid vaccine passports

Former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Tom Frieden told CNBC on Thursday that it might not be advisable to make what are known as Covid vaccination cards mandatory, as it could deter Americans from getting the shot.

“I think a vaccination certificate is something you should be entitled to, but you don’t have to,” said Frieden, who headed the health department under former President Barack Obama.

In an interview on Closing Bell, Frieden noted that some countries may require people to be vaccinated in order to travel and that some workplaces may implement vaccination mandates. For these reasons, it makes sense that people can easily prove that they received the vaccine, he said.

Indeed, a coalition called the Vaccination Credential Initiative announced Thursday that it would develop a digital Covid vaccination record. Microsoft, Salesforce and the Mayo Clinic, among others, are working on the development of technologies with which people can receive an encrypted digital version of vaccination protocols. It could then be stored in a digital wallet of your choice such as the Apple Wallet or Google Pay.

Vaccine hesitation, however, has been cited as a factor in the shaky rollout of Covid vaccination in the US, and peace fears that people who need to get a certificate to show they have been encountered could heighten fears.

“I would not be in favor of a system where people have to get something like this because you discourage people from vaccinating. It will be counterproductive,” he said.

Peace urged Americans in general to be patient with the slower than expected distribution of vaccines, and said public health precautions must be observed during the process.

“Nobody is going to change that,” he said. “We’ll still have to wear masks. We’ll still have to keep social distancing, and vaccination will be a month-long process in the United States.”