FDA Approval of Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine Likely to Spark Employer Mandates

President Biden called on employers to require COVID-19 vaccines for their workers after the FDA granted full approval to Pfizer's vaccine. Hundreds of millions of shots have been administered under emergency authorization, but full approval could galvanize employers to make vaccines mandatory. Employment lawyers and industry experts say this could be a turning point, as many companies had been hesitant to impose vaccine requirements due to fears of driving away workers. However, with the delta variant spreading and the CDC recommending face masks indoors, employers may now see vaccine mandates as a necessary step to maintain a safe work environment.

Key Takeaways:

• The FDA's full approval of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine is likely to nudge employers to require their workers to get the shot.
• Federal courts had already ruled employers had the power to require vaccines, even under emergency authorization, but full FDA approval could serve as another push.
• Employment lawyers say the momentum for vaccine mandates is gathering, with some employers already announcing they would require vaccines.
• The U.S. military plans to require COVID-19 vaccines for all members, citing the need to ensure the safety of service members and promote the readiness of the force.
• The governor of New Jersey has announced all schoolteachers and state employees will have to get vaccinated or undergo regular testing.
• Some employers, such as United Airlines and Tyson, had already announced they would require vaccines before the FDA's full approval.
• Some states, like Montana, have outlawed vaccine requirements, but this is unlikely to stop employers in other states from imposing mandates.

Statistics:

• Hundreds of millions of COVID-19 shots have been administered in the United States under emergency authorization.
• 20% of the U.S. population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of August 2021 (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
• The CDC recommends face masks Indoors in areas with high transmission rates of COVID-19 (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
• The U.S. military plans to require COVID-19 vaccines for all members, with over 2 million active-duty personnel (Source: Department of Defense).

Sources:

• Biden, J. (Aug 2021). Remarks on COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates. The White House.
• Coburn, B. (Aug 2021). Employment Lawyer Interview with NPR.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Aug 2021). COVID-19 Vaccination. Retrieved from
• Department of Defense. (Aug 2021). COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates. Retrieved from