Should Every Company Ask Employees to Get Vaccinated?

As we are progressing ahead of the Coronavirus pandemic, we are getting back to normal. The way we used to eat, shop, work and live.  However, some changes remain there for an unknown period. Despite that, we are gradually getting back to normal. And this “normalization” requires us to have some precautions not to get affected by the virus.

Workplaces are one of the most noticeable places where we can not avoid visiting when it calls us back to normal. It directly impacts our living. As of today, more and more employees are returning to the office after a long WFH break, which is raising new standards of health precautions. Employers and employees are concerned about the vaccination status of co-workers. Employers are suggested to take precautions when presenting the concern.

The Damages Caused by the Virus

As we know, a high number of people are died due to this disease in 2019 and 2020 and still continues to do so. As of May 21, 2021, the outbreak had caused 3.4 million people to die. At the same time, some experts suggest that that deaths have been substantially undercounted and in some places more than others. So, the actual COVID-19 death count is around 7 million, more than double the reported number of 3.24 million.

This increasing number is enough for anyone to get distressed and concerned about the health status of their co-workers. The pace of COVID vaccinations is even picking up momentum in 2021. A significant number of people died this year too.

At work, employers are having discussions and concerns about their company’s vaccination policy for employees returning to the workplace. As of mid-April, Our World in Data reports 825 million people have received vaccinations.

Should Every Employer Ask Its Employees to Get Vaccinated?

Companies who want to ensure a safe and smooth re-entry into the office space may want to know whether their employees have taken one of the vaccines. People seeking to hire home help, contractors, plumbers, or maybe delivery people may wonder whether those they’re hiring have been vaccinated against the virus that has killed more than 500,000 people across the country.

The decision of getting vaccinations is personal; Can or should companies mandate their employees to be vaccinated in order to make a safe environment?

Do companies have the right to ask all the employees to get vaccinated as they get back to work on their office sites? Generally speaking, it is okay to ask and, more importantly, educate people to get them vaccinated for the greater good of the whole organization.

Companies should educate employees about Covid-19 safety and preventive measures.

Insisting people at the workplace take reasonable precautions to avoid bringing an infectious disease to the office should not be considered rude or bad in any way. Despite this, a vast number of people are still hesitant to get vaccinated. What could be the possible reasons not to get vaccinated and stay safe in a vulnerable environment?

Possible Reasons for Being Hesitant to Vaccines

• A majority of people are concerned about possible side effects of vaccination
• Some of them are still waiting to see if it is safe. Later, they might receive vaccinations if they find it safe.
• A significant number of people do not trust Covid-19 Vaccines in general.
• Some people think that elderly or more vulnerable citizens need vaccinations than they do. Therefore, they believe it’s better to let others get benefitted first.
• A number of people are not sure if the Covid-19 vaccine works.

The Availability of Vaccines from Pharmaceutical Companies

As several COVID-19 vaccines start getting approval, there is a growing hope that the world will find a way to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are still many challenges to deal with. One of the challenges includes a high demand in manufacturing, making it hard for companies to meet the increasing demand.

As a result, companies across the pharmaceutical industry are adapting flexible ways and collaborating with each other to work together and manufacture vaccines as rapidly as possible.

How Well the Vaccine Works?

Based on evidence from clinical trials in people aged 16 and above, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was effective for 95% of people at preventing laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 illness without evidence of the previous infection.

In clinical trials, the same vaccine was found highly effective at preventing COVID-19 illness in adolescents aged 12–15 years, and the immune response in these people was strong enough to recommend others to keep taking the vaccines. As more and more people get the vaccine, more information will be available on how vaccines work in real-world conditions.

Possible Side Effects of Covid-19 vaccines

In the arm where you get vaccinated:

• Redness
• Pain
• Swelling

Throughout the body:

• Headache
• Tiredness
• Muscle pain
• Fever
• Nausea
• Chills

If your body is likely to react to the vaccine, it will happen in a day or two after getting the vaccine. These signs are normal and show that your body is building a protection layer. These symptoms usually go in a few days.

Who Should Not Get Vaccinated?

If you have had a severe or immediate allergic reaction referred to as anaphylaxis from any ingredient in an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, you should not get the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. If you cannot get an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, you may still be able to get a different type of COVID-19 vaccine.

Should Your Company ask Employees to get Vaccinated?

Like other companies in the world, we at Invictus Star urge our employees to get vaccinated in order to create a safer environment at the workplace. What does your company say about their vaccination policy? Generally speaking, no matter what, it significantly depends on public opinion. If more people are concerned about the vaccination, the organization will find no way less than building a virus-free environment.