Category Archives: Covid-19

AUSTIN (KXAN) As Austin City Limits kicked off day 2, Austin-Travis County has celebrated a win by dropping down to Stage 3 COVID-19 risk based guidelines.

The progress is based on lower ICU and hospital admissions.

Travis County is offering COVID-19 vaccines at the ACL festival to keep the numbers declining.

The Travis County mobile vaccine team will provide COVID-19 vaccines at Austin City Limits Music Festival during both weekends (Oct. 1-3 and Oct. 8-10.)

University of Texas Freshman Osman Moradel happened to pass by the clinic on Saturday and jumped at the opportunity to get his booster shot.

I saw it and was like might as well get it, Im here and I probably wont feel any side effects until tomorrow, said Moradel.

Travis County is reporting that the majority of people coming to the mobile clinic are coming for their booster shot, but there are some limitations.

Right now, guidelines are only allowed for the Pfizer boosters, said Hector Nieto, of Travis Countys communications team.

The Center for Disease Control does not recommend mixing brands of vaccination, so some people were turned away.

Those receiving their second Pfizer dose or the Pfizer booster shot have to bring their CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card, so it can be updated.

The fact that people are getting their vaccine and people are bringing their vaccine cards, I feel safe, said Moradel.

Festival attendees must show their vaccine card or a negative COVID-19 test in order to get inside. ACL reports that on day one which was Friday 86% of people showed their vaccine card, 14% had a negative test and less than 1% were turned away for not having one.

In Travis County roughly 71% of its 12 and older population has been vaccinated.

Travis Countys online calendar and map show vaccine events taking place around the County.

Anyone whos 12 and older can receive their first or second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Pfizer booster shots will be available as well to those who qualify. The vaccine team will operate 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. each day of the festival.

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How its going with COVID-19 protocols, vaccinations at ACL festival - KXAN.com

BALTIMORE (WJZ) Maryland reported 1,287 new COVID-19 cases and 14 new deaths, according to state health department data released Saturday morning.

The percentage of people testing positive increased slightly by .01% to 4.08%.

Doctors say the new cases are fueled by dangerous strains targeting the unvaccinated. During an August press conference, Gov. Larry Hogan said the Delta variant, a strain that is reportedly two to four times more contagious than the original virus strain, accounts for nearly every new confirmed case in Maryland.

The vaccines are without a doubt our single most effective tool to mitigate the threat of COVID-19 and the surging Delta variant, and Marylands vaccination rate continues to outpace the nation, Hogan said.

More than 3.9 million Maryland adults are fully vaccinated.

Hospitalizations decreased by 24 to 752. Of those hospitalized, 548 remain in acute care and 204 are in the ICU.

Since the pandemic began, there were 535,157 total confirmed cases and 10,243 deaths.

There are 3,903,142 Marylanders fully vaccinated. The state has administered 7,954,222 doses. Of those, 3,957,284 are first doses with 6,899 administered in the past 24 hours. They have given out 3,599,123 second doses, 6,608 in the last day.

The state began to administer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine again in April after the CDC and FDA lifted their pause on the vaccine due to a rare blood clot found in some women.

A total of 304,019 Marylanders have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, 742 in the last day.

On September 24, after the CDC granted final approval for Pfizers booster, Gov. Hogan announced the immediate authorization of the booster shot for Marylanders who have received their second Pfizer shot at least six months ago. Hogan had already approved use for vulnerable populations in early September.

The state has administered 92,796 additional or booster vaccine doses, 11,864 in the last day.

The state reported 83.8% of all adults in Maryland have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

In August, the state launched a post-vaccination infections dashboard that is updated every Wednesday. There have been 18,243 total cases among fully vaccinated Marylanders as of last Wednesday, Sept. 22.

Of those cases, 1,331 vaccinated Marylanders were hospitalized, representing 8.73% of all Covid cases hospitalized in the state. One hundred fifty-six fully vaccinated Marylanders have died, representing 8.36% of lab-confirmed Covid deaths in the state.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES:

Heres a breakdown of the numbers:

By County

By Age Range and Gender

By Race and Ethnicity

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COVID-19 In Maryland: More Than 1.2K New Cases & 14 Deaths Reported Saturday - CBS Baltimore

At the beginning of the COVID-19 vaccination push nine months ago, many experts worriedwith justificationthat people of color would be left behind. Sadly, it is a well-established fact that people of color suffer from poorer access to quality health care. And early on, there was some evidence of these disparities; in March of this year, for example, I documented inequities in vaccine share among Black Americans in Maryland. Fortunately, the situation has improved over time, in part because governments at every level have worked hard to make vaccines and accurate information available to everyone. According to a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) released on Sept. 28, gaps in vaccination rates across racial and ethnic groups have virtually disappearedwhile gaps reflecting political affiliation have widened substantially.

Of Americans surveyed from Sept. 13-22, 72% of adults 18 and older had been vaccinated, including 71% of white Americans, 70% of Black Americans, and 73% of Hispanics. Contrast these converging figures with disparities based on politics: 90% of Democrats had been vaccinated, compared with 68% of Independents and just 58% of Republicans.

A Gallup survey released on Sept. 29 confirmed the KFF findings. As of mid-September, 75% of adult Americans have been vaccinated, including 73% of non-Hispanic white adults and 78% of non-whites. Along party lines, however, the breakdown was 92% of Democrats, 68% of Independents, and 56% of Republicans.

There is no reason to believe that these gaps in vaccination rates will disappear anytime soon. According to Gallup, 40% of Republicans dont plan to get vaccinated, versus 26% of Independents and just 3% of Democrats. In response to a more sharply worded KFF question, 23% of Republicans report that they will definitely not get vaccinated, compared to 11% of Independents and just 4% of Democrats.

These national divergences are reflected at the state and county level as well, per data from Johns Hopkins University. Of the 21 states with vaccination rates above the national average, Joe Biden carried 20 last November. Of the 29 states below the national average, Donald Trump carried 24. At the county level, the vaccination-rate gap between the counties Biden and Trump won has increased nearly six-fold from 2.2% in April to 12.9% in mid-September, according to KFF.

These recent surveys suggest two large truths about the pandemic. First, perceptions and incentives can affect the willingness to get vaccinated. After stagnating through much of the summer, vaccination rates jumped between mid-August and mid-September. The spread of the Delta variant and the surge of hospitalizations was a frequently cited reason for this decision; the desire to participate in activities that required vaccination was the other.

Second, attitudes toward vaccinations are now fully integrated into the larger, seemingly intractable cultural divide in American society and between the parties. For this reason, between 15% and 20% of adults are unlikely to get vaccinated, even if they come under intensifying pressure to do so.

If so, the United States will find out whether vaccination rates of 80% to 85% will be enough to fully reopen the economy and restore normal social life.

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For COVID-19 vaccinations, party affiliation matters more than race and ethnicity - Brookings Institution

Travellers walk under an Air New Zealand sign at Auckland Airport in New Zealand, September 20, 2017. REUTERS/Nigel Marple

Oct 3 (Reuters) - Air New Zealand (AIR.NZ), the flag carrier airline of New Zealand, said on Sunday it will require passengers on its international flights to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, in what is one of the world's strictest policies for travellers.

"Being vaccinated against COVID-19 is the new reality of international travel many of the destinations Kiwis want to visit are already closed to unvaccinated visitors," Air New Zealand's Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran said in a statement.

New Zealand plans to reopen its international borders, which have been closed since March 2020 to anyone who is not a New Zealand citizen, early next year. Air New Zealand will implement the vaccination policy from Feb. 1, the airline said.

"As with anything, there will be some that disagree," Foran said. "However, we know this is the right thing to do to protect our people, our customers and the wider New Zealand community."

In September, Qantas (QAN.AX), Australia's largest airline, also said it will require that all passengers on international flights to be vaccinated, becoming one of the first airlines in the world to require proof of inoculation for everyone on board.

Reporting and writing in Melbourne by Lidia Kelly; Editing by Sandra Maler

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Air New Zealand to require COVID-19 vaccination for international travelers - Reuters

LITTLE ROCK, Ark New data released Saturday by the Arkansas Department of Health shows that hospitalizations for COVID-19 related symptoms have dropped below 700 for the first time in more than two months.

The Arkansas Department of Health reported that hospitalizations dropped by 14 in the last 24 hours to the 689 currently in the state. The last time the state recorded less than 700 hospitalizations was July 18.

Active cases of COVID-19 are down from Friday, dropping by 87 to 9,901.

In total, there were 642 new cases of COVID-19 reported Saturday, bringing the total since the beginning of the pandemic to 497,576 in Arkansas.

The state reported 6 more deaths among patients with COVID-19, pushing the total for the state to 7,724.

Officials reported 183 patients on ventilators, a decrease of seven.

More than 12,349 new COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered in Arkansas in the last 24 hours. The number of fully immunized Arkansans has gone up by 3,682, bringing the total fully immunized in the state to 1,342,797.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson commented on receiving a COVID-19 booster shot this week.

I received my COVID booster shot this week, Hutchinson said in a Tweet. Throughout the COVID pandemic, I have listened to my personal doctors and healthcare professionals I trust to make the best decisions for my health. Ive encouraged Arkansans to do the same.

I received my COVID booster shot this week. Throughout the COVID pandemic, I have listened to my personal doctors and healthcare professionals I trust to make the best decisions for my health. Ive encouraged Arkansans to do the same. pic.twitter.com/7cpBQ74QtN

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COVID-19 in Arkansas: Hospitalizations drop below 700 for the first time since July, Hutchinson receives booster shot - KNWA

She was an animal lover in Kentucky who was a "bright ray of sunshine" to all who knew her. He was a father of two and "young soul" in Florida who could often be found out on the water on his boat. They were excited about the next chapters in their lives -- for her, a wedding; for him, his first grandchild.

Samantha Wendell and Shane O'Neal both also resisted getting vaccinated against COVID-19 for months, stemming from feelings of either fear or fearlessness, before deciding to make an appointment to get the shot. But before they could, they contracted COVID-19 and, following weeks of severe illness, died last month after doctors exhausted all options, their families said.

Their two tragic tales were shared publicly on social media and to news outlets by grieving family members trying to make sense of what happened, and maybe prevent others from going through the same loss.

They also represent a population that public health experts are still trying to reach, as millions in the United States remain unvaccinated against COVID-19 as the more contagious delta variant continues to spread.

Days after returning home from her Nashville bachelorette party in July, Wendell, a surgical technician from Grand Rapids, started to feel sick, her cousin, Maria Vibandor Hayes, told ABC News. Her fiance, Austin Eskew, also fell ill, she said, about a month before the two college sweethearts were set to tie the knot on Aug. 21.

Eskew recovered, but Wendell's illness progressed to the point where she was having trouble breathing and needed to be hospitalized the second week in August, according to Vibandor Hayes. The next month was a "rollercoaster" of progress and setbacks, her cousin said. Wendell was moved to a hospital in Indiana, where she was put on a BPAP (bilevel positive airway pressure) machine to help with her breathing, but the week of her wedding she was intubated and put on a ventilator, Vibandor Hayes said.

Samantha Wendell was in the hospital on her wedding date before dying from COVID-19 on Sept. 10, 2021, family said.

After a few more weeks of ups and downs, Wendell's condition didn't improve and doctors told the family they had done everything they possibly could, her cousin said. She died on Sept. 10 from COVID-19 at the age of 29.

"I didn't think that this would be our story," Vibandor Hayes said. "Surely, we're gonna have a wedding to attend before the end of the year, Sam is gonna wake up and she'll be better and we're going to celebrate and live life. But that was not what was the case."

"I just never want another family to experience what our family has gone through, to say goodbye to somebody on the phone," she said.

Maria Vibandor Hayes, left, with her cousin Samantha Wendell in an undated photo.

It was particularly hard to see what her cousin went through because Vibandor Hayes is a COVID-19 long hauler, after contracting the virus in March 2020. "I remember how I felt, I remember how I thought I could possibly die," said Vibandor Hayes, who still suffers from brain fog.

The couple had appointments to get vaccinated after Wendell returned from her bachelorette party, but then they both got sick, Vibandor Hayes said. They had previously hesitated due to concerns of infertility, but Wendell's mother had encouraged them to get vaccinated ahead of their wedding and honeymoon, the cousin said.

Wendell was not alone in her fears of the vaccine -- others have hesitated on getting the shot due to unfounded rumors that it might lead to infertility. Medical experts and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have stressed there is no link between the vaccines and fertility.

"Misinformation killed my cousin," Vibandor Hayes said. "She is a smart young woman, she always has been. I feel like if she was able to look at things from another perspective and that if she had all the information at her hand, that she would have eventually not hesitated for so long."

Shane O'Neal, seen here in an undated photo, died on Sept. 3, 2021, after contracting COVID-19, his family said.

O'Neal was an avid outdoorsman who could often be found fishing, jet skiing or hunting, his daughter, Kylie Dean, told ABC News.

The resident of Maxville, outside Jacksonville, wasn't too concerned about getting vaccinated against COVID-19 -- he mostly kept to himself on his boat when he wasn't at his construction company, Dean said.

"He knew [COVID-19] was real, and he knew what was going on, but I don't think he lived his life in fear of it," Dean said.

The "turning point," she said, was the delta variant, which has fueled a surge of cases and hospitalizations, particularly in the Jacksonville area.

"He knew people affected by it, that it's not something that's going away, it's actually coming back with a vengeance almost," Dean said. "So that's why he was like, you know what, I'm just going to go ahead and do it."

The week O'Neal planned to get the vaccine, though, he tested positive for COVID-19 in early August, his daughter said. He was hospitalized a week later and eventually put on a ventilator. He was a good candidate for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment, a last resort for COVID-19 patients, though his hospital didn't have the machine available, Dean said. After she put out a plea for an ECMO bed, doctors were able to find him one. But his condition deteriorated, and he died in the early morning hours of Sept. 3 at the age of 40.

Kylie Dean with her father, Shane O'Neal, in an undated photo.

About 20 minutes after he died, Dean gave birth to her baby boy, O'Neal's first grandchild.

"I literally broke down, hysterically crying," Dean said of when she got the call that her dad was going to pass soon. "I didn't want him to die alone."

The family is still "in shock," Dean said. Her father was young and had no comorbidities, but his illness progressed rapidly.

Dean, an intensive care unit nurse, hopes to improve access to ECMO therapy and has been speaking out to warn others about the virus and urge them to protect themselves. "It's a monster and people need to be careful, she told ABC News Jacksonville affiliate WJXX.

Wendell's and O'Neal's stories are akin to others shared by family members. Other recent reports of people who planned to get vaccinated but died after contracting COVID-19 include a 53-year-old former Texas councilman, a 39-year-old Illinois teacher, a 48-year-old teacher in Florida, and a 20-year-old college student in North Carolina.

Nearly all COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths are among people who are unvaccinated, as health care workers and in some cases those hospitalized themselves plead for vaccination.

As of Wednesday, some 70 million people who are eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine remain unvaccinated, according to federal data. Over 65% of those ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated nationwide, which is low considering the level of access to free vaccines in the U.S., Rupali Limaye, director of Behavioral and Implementation Science at the International Vaccine Access Center, based at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told ABC News.

At this stage, two main forces may get someone who is hesitant vaccinated, Limaye said -- one is hearing about someone regretting not getting the vaccine, the other a vaccine mandate.

"If someone they know themselves is dealing with a very severe case, and someone they know dies from it or they're close to death, I think that tends to change their mind," Limaye said. "Or the vaccine mandate, because then that's sort of an economic sanction."

Hesitancy continues to be fueled by safety concerns and distrust of the vaccine development process, as well as the belief that preventative measures are unnecessary, she said. Public health experts continue to work to dispel misinformation, but hearing personal stories could be impactful.

"If it is someone that you know where you can hear from a friend, 'This is what happened to my mom,' I think that puts it into perspective for people a lot versus just public health folks saying you should get it," Limaye said. "I think it makes it much more real."

Vibandor Hayes said she has received "hate mail" from strangers after urging people to get vaccinated, but wants to continue to speak out to help prevent another family from experiencing the same heartbreak.

"If this is the gift she has left us, to share with others, then that's what we'll do," Vibandor Hayes said.

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They had an appointment to get the vaccine, but died from COVID-19 - ABC News

Hundreds of parents have signed their elementary school-aged kids up for voluntary COVID-19 testing in West Hartford.

School officials announced that they're partnering with the state of Connecticut to provide voluntary pooled testing to students in grades K-6. Only students whose parents have signed them up would participate in the testing.

The school district said over 500 parents have already signed their children up for testing, which could begin as early as next week.

"We are hopeful that vaccinations for those under twelve will be approved soon, which will provide another level of safety," Superintendent Tom Moore said in a statement.

A total of over 90% of West Hartford Public School students in grades 7-12 are vaccinated. This is the highest rate in Hartford County, according to school officials.

"While we have seen some schools forced to cancel sports events due to the number of students in quarantine, our kids have been able to play all of their games without interruption. This high vaccination rate, both in our schools and in our community, will continue to serve us well as we move into the colder months," Moore said.

For more information on the school district's plan, click here.

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Over 500 Parents Sign Up For Voluntary COVID-19 Testing in West Hartford Schools - NBC Connecticut

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new studies Friday that show enforcing masks in schools helps reduce the spread of COVID-19.

One study looked at data from schools in Arizona's Maricopa and Pima Counties after they resumed in-person learning in late July for the 2021-22 academic year. The two counties account for roughly 75% of the state's population.

The CDC found that the K-12 schools that did not have mask requirements at the beginning of the school year were 3.5 times more likely to have COVID outbreaks than schools that required all people, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a mask indoors from the first day of school.

Of the 999 schools analyzed in the study, 21% had an early mask requirement, 30.9% enacted a mask requirement between nine and 17 days after the school year began, and 48% had no mask requirement. Of the 191 COVID outbreaks that occurred in those schools from July 15 to August 31, 113 were in schools that did not enforce masks at all. Schools with early mask requirements had the lowest number of outbreaks.

During that time frame, Arizona was experiencing an upward trend of weekly COVID cases, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Another study from the CDC looked at the impact of school mask mandates across the U.S.

Authors looked at data from 520 counties that started school between July 1 and September 4 this year and had at least a full week of case data from the school year. They only looked at counties where all the schools had the same mask policies. Of the 520 counties, 198 had a school mask requirement and 322 did not.

Researchers found that counties that had no mask requirements in their schools had a higher rate of pediatric COVID cases after the school year began than those schools that did have requirements. Schools that required masks, the study found, had 16.32 cases per 100,000 children in the first week of classes; schools without had 34.85 cases per 100,000 children.

Authors did note, however, that all children in the counties were included in the data and not just those who are school-age. They also noted that teacher vaccinate rates and school testing data were not controlled in the analyses, and that the sample size of counties is small.

In both studies, authors reiterated that "consistent and correct mask use is a critical strategy" for preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Teenagers have recently made up the majority of weekly cases, according to the CDC, with elderly adults making up some of the lowest numbers of weekly cases.

The new research comes amid ongoing debates over mask mandates a hot-button issue in some parts of the country.

Several states, including Florida, Texas and Arizona, have attempted to ban school districts from enforcing masks. Meanwhile, schools in Iowa, South Carolina, Tennessee are undergoing investigations from the Department of Education for their mask mandate bans, with the department saying the decision can put students' health in jeopardy.

School board meetingshave become a focal point for mask mandate debates. With many districts weighing their options for new rules to curb the spread of COVID-19, many have jumped in to claim that requiring masks is not necessary and a violation of their rights.

A CBS News poll in August found that while more than half of surveyed parents believe schools should require masks for children, 36% believe they should be optional, and 6% think they shouldn't be allowed at all. Additionally, 52% of surveyed parents think vaccines should not be required for students.

The CDC has maintained that universal indoor masking is an important tool in helping prevent the spread. The agency says all teachers, staff, students and visitors in K-12 schools should wear masks, regardless of their vaccination status.

Li Cohen is a social media producer and trending reporter for CBS News, focusing on social justice issues.

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Schools without mask mandates are more likely to have COVID-19 outbreaks, CDC finds - CBS News

COVID-19 Information

Last updated: 09/09/2021

*** Effective January 26, all airline passengers to the United States ages two years and older must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within three calendar days of travel. Alternatively, travelers to the United States may provide documentation from a licensed health care provider of having recovered from COVID-19 in the 90 days preceding travel and proof of a recent negative viral test. Check theCDC websitefor additional information and frequently asked questions.

Travel Advisory Status

*New Updates*

Domestic Travel Restrictions

Effective September 1, 2021, only fully vaccinated passengers, with an approved COVID-19 vaccine, will be allowed to travel on domestic flights in Saudi Arabia. This rule does not apply to children under the age of 12 years old or individuals who are exempt from COVID-19 vaccination due to health reasons documented by the Ministry of Health.

Easing of Restrictions on Previously Banned Countries

Residents with a valid residency permit (iqama) who have completed both doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine in Saudi Arabia before leaving to one of the banned countries (India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Egypt, Brazil, Afghanistan, and Lebanon) are allowed to re-enter Saudi Arabia directly. A negative PCR test (within 72 hours of entry) is still required, along with proof of vaccinations through Tawakkalna and Muqeem.

Country-Specific Information

Movement within Saudi Arabia

COVID-19 Testing

COVID-19 Vaccination Information

Vaccination Availability for Non-Resident

https://goo.gl/maps/TEG73jGvAjPeA8Ns5

https://goo.gl/maps/MZx7H72exGgsTqv17

Vaccination Registration Requirement for Inbound Passengers

Entry and Exit Requirements

Entry Requirements

Saudi Arabian Visas

Exit Requirements

Movement Restrictions

Requirements for Entering Private and Public Buildings in Saudi Arabia

Fines for Non-Compliance

Quarantine Information

Transportation Options

Consular Operations

All routine citizen services are currently being offered, including: U.S. passport services, notarial services, and consular report of birth abroad. Appointments are available on ourwebsite.

Visa Services

All visa services are open but limited appointments are available at Embassy Riyadh and Consulates General Jeddah and Dhahran. For more information, please visit:https://www.ustraveldocs.com/sa/. Individuals with questions regarding immigrant visas may contactRiyadhIV@state.gov. Individuals with questions regarding non-immigrant visas may contactDhahranNIV@state.gov,JeddahVisas@state.gov, orRiyadhNIV@state.gov.

Local Resources

Waiver Process for CDC Order on Pre-Flight Testing:

The following information must be provided foreachpassenger:

Other links:

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COVID-19 Information | U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Saudi ...

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich President Biden wants to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for employers with more than 100 workers, but its still not a federal law.

Regardless, the issue is bringing up a lot of legal questions for businesses and their employees.

It has really been an interesting time, said Stephanie Setterington with Varnum.

She represents employers and has practiced law nearly 25 years.

But whats happened in the last 18 months, is new for everyone.

Were all trailblazing, Setterington said. Were all trying to figure this stuff out on the fly, and were looking toward - when it comes to vaccination requirements, there have been other vaccines in the past and some employers would require employees to get like a flu shot.

Thats why they have to look to the past and see how those rules apply now.

Under the presidents proposed mandate, federal employees and contractors would be required to get the vaccine. So would health care workers at facilities that get government funding.

Theres no testing option for that group, meaning those people will need to get the shot.

But roughly 80 million other workers would be able to choose whether to show proof of a COVID vaccine or get tested for every week.

A lot of things depend on the circumstances, said attorney Sarah Howard with Pinsky, Smith, Fayette and Kennedy.

She represents employees and has heard from people who dont want to get the shot, and those who only want to be in a fully vaccinated workplace.

So, when somebody is making a claim of a medical or disability accommodation, Howard said, they would go to their employer and say, I have this medical condition it makes it extra dangerous for me to work in an unvaccinated workplace, I think I can continue to do my job at home, will you allow that? Then the employer has an obligation engage in a dialogue with the employee figure out if thats a thing they can accommodate.

Others will flat out refuse the shot and may be terminated. While they might threaten a lawsuit theres not much legal ground to stand on.

Michigan is an at-will employment state, Setterington said, but if what the employer was doing was somehow discriminating on the basis of a protected class or if an employee had an employment contract that was being breached by the termination, then there could be a cause of action. But simply being let go because you wouldnt comply with a vaccine mandate is not typically gonna be grounds for a lawsuit.

If you are let go, unemployment may be an option.

Michigans Unemployment Insurance Agency told Fox 17 it all depends on the circumstances.

Qualifying for benefits is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. A review will be conducted of the employers policies, work rules, why the vaccine is required, and the claimants reason for refusing it.

If an employer has a written policy and you disobey, that could disqualify you from benefits but not always.

An employer might have a policy, but an employee might have a compelling reason personally why they couldnt comply with that policy, Setterington said. We dont know yet how the unemployment agency is going to apply its rules in determining whether thats misconduct.

Some employers want to mandate the vaccine and they have deadlines for workers to comply.

Others want to leave the decision up to the employee.

A new territory for all involved and one thats still being tweaked.

Its really impossible to say as a generalization whether or not someones treatment at work is illegal without talking to them, said Howard.

Everyones situation is different, so if you have legal questions, its best to contact an attorney.

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COVID-19 vaccine mandates in the workplace; are they legal? - Fox17