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This week, California became the first state to mandate COVID-19 vaccines or regular testing to health care workers and state employees. This is a big step to curve the increased spread of COVID-19 throughout the state, but this new mandate has brought in some a mixed reaction from residents of California. Beginning next month, all private and public sector health care workers and an estimated 246,000 state government employees will be required to show proof of vaccination. If any have not been vaccinated or choose to not adhere to these new requirements, they will have to submit to weekly testing and will be required to wear a mask at all indoor work locations. They could be tested once a week and in some cases several times a week.
Currently, there is no state that has more people vaccinated than California. This being said, positive infections in California are rising at a drastic rate and a large majority of residents are still feeling hesitation when it comes to getting vaccinated. About 52% of California's population has been vaccinated against COVID-19.
With California taking steps to mandate vaccinations for state employees and health care workers, many private organizations are following the state's lead and taking the initiative to require vaccinations. On Tuesday, the California State University System announced that they will be mandating vaccines this fall for all students, faculty, and staff that will be on campus. The city of Los Angeles and the city of Long Beach both announced that city employees would be required to show proof of vaccination or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing if they are not inoculated.
There have been many state employees that have yet to receive an inoculation. About half of the thousands of unionized prison guards working at correctional facilities in California have received one dose of a vaccine. As California has offered pandemic bonuses to those working in correctional facilities, set up vaccine clinics in prisons, and even offered an educational program that educates staff about the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine, many are still hesitant. There have been at least 279 new COVID-19 cases among prison workers in California in the LAST 14 DAYS, according to California's Corrections Department. WOW!
It is important to note, companies can require their employees that are entering the workplace to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Here are some stats:
-Various hospitals and health organizations are requiring their employees to get vaccinated.
-There have been over 400 universities and colleges that are requiring their students to get inoculated against COVID-19.