Vaccines Mandated for Healthcare Workers
The most common type of statewide COVID vaccine mandate is to require healthcare workers to get the vaccine. Currently, six states require all healthcare workers to get the vaccine or risk termination. These states are Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Colorado, Maine, and New York.
Vaccines or Testing Mandated for Healthcare Workers
Several states require healthcare workers to either get vaccinated or to get tested regularly. These states include Vermont, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Mexico, New Jersey, Nevada, Mississippi, Massachusetts, Kenutkcy, Delaware, District of Columbia, and California. Some states require healthcare workers to either get vaccinated or get tested and wear masks. These states include Maryland, Illinois, and Connecticut.
States That Ban Vaccine Mandates
While many states require vaccination, some states have actually passed laws banning employers from putting vaccine mandates into place. These states are as follows.
Utah's ban on mandates only applies to government organizations. Private sector employers may mandate vaccinations. In Tennessee, only government organizations are banned from vaccine mandates. Private employers may require vaccination. North Dakota allows Private employers to mandate vaccines; however, public sector employers may not. In New Hampshire, all employers are banned from mandating vaccines unless a "direct threat" exists. In Montana, all employers except healthcare organizations are banned from mandating vaccines. However, even healthcare organizations have to provide unvaccinated employees with "reasonable accommodation."
Indiana's ban states that public sector employers are banned from requiring vaccines. Private sector employers may require vaccines. In Georgia, private sector employers may mandate vaccines, while public sector employers may not. Arkansas's ban states that public sector organizations cannot require their employees to get the vaccine. Private sector employers may mandate the vaccine. In Arizona, all employers in the public and private sectors are banned from mandating the vaccine, with the sole exception of healthcare organizations. Healthcare institutions may require the vaccine, but must also accommodate the unvaccinated.
States With Unique Stipulations Regarding Vaccine Mandates
Some states have unique stipulations within their vaccine mandate laws that are different than the laws that have been passed in other states. These states are as follows.
In Pennsylvania, all newly hired employees have to be vaccinated before their first day of work. Oregon requires vaccines by October 18th or within six weeks of full approval from the FDA, whichever comes later. New York mandates healthcare workers to have received at least one dose by September 27th. In Montana, vaccine passports are banned. Kentucky law only requires twice-a-week testing. It suggests, rather than requires, vaccination. Connecticut employers not only cannot hire unvaccinated workers, but they also cannot hire unvaccinated volunteers. Arizona bans vaccine passports.