On December 11, 2020, the Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorization (EUA) for a COVID vaccine developed by Pfizer. On December 18, 2020, the FDA granted similar approval to a vaccine developed by Moderna. Despite various manufacturing, distribution and logistics issues, over 20 million doses have been administered, and approximately 100 million more doses are expected to be distributed by the end of April, providing significant protection to 60 million people in the U.S. A third vaccine from Johnson & Johnson may be added in the coming months. Wider distribution will occur over the following months based upon manufacturing capacity and distribution efforts, but it could be sometime in the fall before everyone who wants the vaccine can receive it.
The availability of these vaccines raises questions about whether employers can require their employees to receive the vaccine. On December 16....read more
