FAQs about COVID-19 Vaccination in the
Workplace: For Employers
What are the benets ofhaving a workplace
COVID-19 vaccination program?
Making COVID-19 vaccination part of your
workplace wellness program offers many
benets to you and your employees. To keep
your workplace healthy, consider offering free,
on-site COVID-19 vaccination at your business locations.
Potential benets to employers:
• Keep the workforce healthy by preventing employees from getting COVID-19
• Reduce absences due to illness
• Reduce time missed from work to get vaccinated
• Improve productivity
• Improve morale
Potential benets to employees:
• Prevent COVID-19 illness
• Reduce absences and doctor visits due to illness
• Offers convenience
• Improve morale
If your business can’t offer COVID-19 vaccinations on site, or if your state or jurisdiction
has determined that your business is not a suitable location at this time, encourage
employees to seek COVID-19 vaccination in their community and provide them with
information about where they can get the vaccine.
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How does my workplace implement a COVID-19 vaccinationprogram?
Employers considering implementing a workplace COVID-19 vaccination program
should contact the health department in their jurisdiction (https://www.cdc.gov/
coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/open-america/hd-search/index.html) for guidance. The
planning process for hosting a workplace COVID-19 vaccination program should include
input from management, human resources, employees, and labor representatives, as
appropriate. Important preliminary steps include obtaining senior management support,
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FAQs about COVID-19 Vaccination in the Workplace: For Employers
identifying a vaccine coordinator, and enlisting expertise from local public health
authorities, occupational health providers, and pharmacies. Additional considerations
for hosting a vaccination clinic can be found in CDC’s Guidance for Planning Vaccination
Clinics Held at Satellite, Temporary, or Off-Site Locations (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/
hcp/admin/mass-clinic-activities/index.html) and Resources for Hosting a Vaccination
Clinic (https://www.cdc.gov/u/business/hosting-vaccination-clinic.htm). COVID-19
vaccination providers can also review Interim Considerations: Preparing for the Potential
Management of Anaphylaxis After COVID-19 Vaccination (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/
covid-19/clinical-considerations/managing-anaphylaxis.html).
Will use of COVID-19 vaccines be mandated under Emergency Use
Authorizations (EUAs)?
No, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not mandate vaccination. However,
whether a state, local government, or employer, for example, may require or mandate
COVID-19 vaccination is a matter of state or other applicable law.
CanI require my employees to get the COVID-19 vaccineregardless of
their medical conditions or religious beliefs?
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) provides guidance on
mandatory vaccination against H1N1 inuenza. The EEOC guidance may be applicable to
COVID-19 vaccination, which became available in December 2020.
For employers covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), “…an employee may
be entitled to an exemption based on an ADA disability that prevents him from taking the
inuenza vaccine.”
For employers covered under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, “once an employer
receives notice that an employee’s sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance
prevents him from taking the inuenza vaccine, the employer must provide a reasonable
accommodation unless it would pose an undue hardship.”
“Generally, ADA-covered employers should consider simply encouraging employees to
get the inuenza vaccine rather than requiring them to take it.”
See question 13 for more information from the EEOC, available at https://www.eeoc.gov/
laws/guidance/pandemic-preparedness-workplace-and-americans-disabilities-act
What kind of exemptions typically accompanyemployee
vaccination programs?
Two types of exemptions can be implemented: medical and religious exemptions.
Some people may be at risk for an adverse reaction because of an allergy to one of
the vaccine components or a medical condition. This is referred to as a medical exemption.
Some people may decline vaccination because of a religious belief. This is referred to as a
religious exemption. Employers offering vaccination to workers should keep a record of the
offer to vaccinate and the employee’s decision to accept or decline vaccination (https://
www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/pandemic-preparedness-workplace-and-americans-
disabilities-act).
Can I require people to get vaccinated as a condition of work?
Can I require proof if someone claims to have been vaccinated?
Whether an employer may require or mandate COVID-19 vaccination is a matter of
state or other applicable law. If an employer requires employees to provide proof that
they have received a COVID-19 vaccination from a pharmacy or their own healthcare
provider, the employer cannot mandate that the employee provide any medical
information as part of the proof.
How can I encourage my employees to get theCOVID-19vaccine?
Consider hosting a vaccination clinic at your workplace, and contact the health
department in your jurisdiction for guidance. Offer the vaccination at no charge and
during work hours. If hosting a vaccination clinic at your workplace is not possible,
consider other steps to encourage vaccination, listed below:
• Be exible in your human resources policies. Establish policies that
allow employees to take paid leave to seek COVID-19 vaccination in the
community. Support transportation to off-site vaccination clinics.
• Use promotional posters/yers to advertise locations offering COVID-19
vaccination in the community. Display posters about COVID-19 vaccination in break
rooms, cafeterias, and other high-trafc areas.
• Post articles in company communications (e.g., newsletters, intranet, emails,
portals) about the importance of COVID-19 vaccination and where to get the
vaccine in the community.
FAQs about COVID-19 Vaccination in the Workplace: For Employers
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How can employers reassure employees that the COVID-19 vaccine is
safe, even though it is new?
COVID-19 vaccines are being held to the same safety standards as all other vaccines. The
federal government has been working since the pandemic began to make COVID-19 vaccines
available as soon as possible while ensuring they are safe and effective through the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) authority. COVID-19
vaccines were tested in large studies that included thousands of adults of varying ages,
racial and ethnic groups, and health status. The study results showed that the vaccines met
rigorous safety criteria and provided protection from COVID-19 in the study populations.
The most common side effects were pain at the injection site and symptoms like fever
and chills. These side effects tended to be mild to moderate and went away quickly on
their own. Many had few or no severe side effects. In addition, adults over 55 had fewer
and milder side effects than younger people. Learn more about what steps are taken to
ensure the safety of COVID-19 vaccines (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
vaccines/safety.html).
What information should employees get before vaccination?
COVID-19 vaccines will initially be available through the U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination
Program. The law requires that vaccination providers participating in the program
provide vaccine recipients with certain information, including an EUA Fact Sheet for
Recipients (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/eua/index.html) about the vaccine
they are receiving and possible side effects, as well as a vaccination record card with the
name and manufacturer of the vaccine they received, where they received it, and when
they need to return for a second dose of vaccine if required. You can also hand out this
yer (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/expect.html) from CDC.
After employees have been vaccinated, can they stop practicing other
preventive measures such as social distancing and wearing masks?
No. CDC recommends that people continue to take these and other preventive measures
after they are vaccinated. Even if employees have received the COVID-19 vaccine, it will
be important for them to continue other preventive measures such as wearing a mask,
staying 6 feet away from others, avoiding crowds, washing hands often, and cleaning
high-touch surfaces frequently. It takes time for your body to build protection after
any vaccination, and the COVID-19 vaccine may not protect you until a week or two
after your second shot (dose). Together, getting vaccinated for COVID-19 and following
CDC’s recommendations for how to protect yourself and others (https://www.cdc.
gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html) will offer the best
protection from getting and spreading COVID-19.
FAQs about COVID-19 Vaccination in the Workplace: For Employers
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Ifwe vaccinate our employees, can we return to or reopen
the workplace?
It is important to conduct a thorough assessment of the workplace to identify potential
workplace hazards related to COVID-19. Widespread vaccination of employees can be one
consideration for restarting operations and returning to the workplace. Other considerations
for returning to the workplace (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/
guidance-business-response.html) include:
1. The necessity for employees to physically return to the workplace
and whether telework options can be continued
2. Transmission of SARS CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the community (how
many infections there are and how fast it’s spreading)
3. The ability of employees to practice social distancing and other prevention measures,
like wearing masks, when in the workplace
4. Local or state mandates for business closure restrictions
What should we tell employees to do if they develop a fever after
getting vaccinated?
Employees who experience a fever after vaccination should, ideally, stay home from
work pending further evaluation, including consideration for COVID-19 testing. CDC has
released guidance (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/post-vaccine-
considerations-healthcare-personnel.html), which includes suggested approaches to
evaluating and managing post-vaccination symptoms, including fever.
What should I do if people call in sick with side effects?
In most cases, discomfort after vaccination from fever or pain at the injection site is
normal and lasts only a day or 2. You should encourage the employee to stay home and
contact their doctor or healthcare provider if:
• The redness or tenderness where they got the shot increases after 24 hours
• Their side effects are worrying them or do not seem to be going away after a few days
• Learn about how to report a problem or bad reaction (https://www.cdc.gov/
coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html#Safety) after getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
FAQs about COVID-19 Vaccination in the Workplace: For Employers
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Should we tell employees to report vaccine side effects?
CDC and FDA encourage the public to report possible side effects (called “adverse
events”) to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (https://vaers.hhs.gov/
reportevent.html). Employers can also encourage employees to enroll in a new
smartphone-based tool called “v-safe” (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
vaccines/safety/vsafe.html). CDC is implementing v-safe to check in on people’s health
after they receive a COVID-19 vaccine. When employees receive a vaccine, they should
also receive a v-safe information sheet telling them how to enroll in v-safe. If they
enroll, they will receive regular text messages directing them to surveys where they
can report any problems or adverse reactions (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-
ncov/vaccines/faq.html#Safety) after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. CDC also provides
recommendations (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/
allergic-reaction.html) for people who have had allergic reactions to other vaccines and
for those with other types of allergies.
Should I continue to offer inuenza vaccination(https://www.cdc.gov/
u/prevent/vaccinations.htm) to my employees?
Yes. It is important that everyone 6 months and older be vaccinated to protect
themselves from u every fall and winter. While getting a u vaccine will not protect
against COVID-19, it can prevent people from becoming sick with u and needing medical
care. Flu is another serious respiratory illness that can cause missed work, hospitalization,
and, in some cases, even death. The combination of u and COVID-19 could overwhelm
healthcare settings. However, people should not get the u shot within 14 days
(https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/info-by-product/clinical-considerations.
html#Coadministration) of getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
Should I include contractors and temporary employees in my
COVID-19 vaccination plan?
For workers employed by contract rms or temporary help agencies, the stafng agency
and the host employer are joint employers and, therefore, both are responsible for
providing and maintaining a safe work environment. The extent of the responsibilities
the stafng agency and the host employer have will vary, depending on the workplace
conditions, and should be described in their contract (Protecting Temporary Workers
— https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2014-139/pdfs/2014-139.pdf?id=10.26616/
NIOSHPUB2014139).
If you plan to offer vaccination at your workplace, consider providing vaccination to all
people working at the workplace, regardless of their status as a contract or temporary
employee. What is most important is to encourage everyone at the work site to be
vaccinated, no matter what their work arrangement is. If you do not plan to or are unable
to offer work site vaccination, consider providing information to those at the workplace
about how to explore options for vaccination in the community.
FAQs about COVID-19 Vaccination in the Workplace: For Employers
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Should I stagger vaccination schedules for employees to avoid worker
shortages due to vaccine side effects?
Data from COVID-19 vaccine trials indicate that most side effects are mild. Most occur
within the rst 3 days of vaccination (the day of vaccination and the following 2 days, with
most occurring the day after vaccination), resolve within 1–2 days, and are more frequent
and severe following the second dose. At this time, we do not know how common these
symptoms may be among employees. Nonetheless, we expect that most employees
who experience symptoms following vaccination will not need to miss work. Please
see CDC guidance (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/post-vaccine-
considerations-healthcare-personnel.html) for further information.
However, some employees who get vaccinated may have side effects, like fever, and
might need to miss work temporarily. CDC understands concerns about potential
workforce shortages resulting from vaccine side effects. Workplaces may consider
staggering schedules for employees who receive vaccination so that not all employees
are vaccinated on the same day.
In addition, staggering may be more important for the second dose, after which side
effects seem more frequent. To help ensure continuity of operations, facilities may
consider staggering vaccination for employees in the same job category or who work
in the same area of a facility. Staggering vaccination for employees may cause delays in
vaccinating your staff, and the decision to stagger vaccination will need to be weighed
against potential inconveniences that might reduce vaccine acceptance. Facilities should
evaluate their specic situation when determining their best approach. Facilities that
choose to stagger vaccine administration should also ensure all employees receive 2
doses as recommended.
What if an employee has already had COVID-19? Should they
still get vaccinated?
Yes. Both the virus that causes COVID-19 and the vaccine are new. We don’t yet know
how long protection lasts for those who get infected or those who are vaccinated.
COVID-19 vaccination should be offered to workers regardless of whether they already
had COVID-19. Workers should not be required to have an antibody test before or after
they are vaccinated. Learn more about getting vaccinated (https://www.cdc.gov/
coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html#Getting) if someone has already had COVID-19.
FAQs about COVID-19 Vaccination in the Workplace: For Employers
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https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/
recommendations/essentialworker.html
