Endpoints News wants to know: Is your company mandating Covid-19 vaccines?
J&J has joined a growing group of biopharma companies to require that its US-based staffers and contractors get vaccinated against Covid-19, taking a stance as the Delta variant and reopening measures threaten to trigger new, dangerous surges.
High-profile vaccine mandates have trickled in since Pfizer — the manufacturer of the first jab to be authorized by the FDA — announced it’s asking all US workers to either be vaccinated or participate in weekly Covid-19 testing, measures that the Department of Justice has called legal (while the Supreme Court has turned down challenges). Novartis, Genentech, Eli Lilly and Gilead imposed similar rules, while others like Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline took a more voluntary approach, instead saying they’d encourage vaccination.
The issue is clearly top of mind among a slew of biotechs as they consider the new normal.
In a statement to CNBC’s Meg Tirrell, J&J said its decision was the result of following the science and wanting to support the health of employees while upholding responsibilities to protect the communities and helping end the pandemic.
They have until Oct. 4 to get fully vaccinated.
“Individuals who have medical conditions or other reasons not to be vaccinated will be able to seek accommodations,” it added.
Endpoints snap poll
We would like to know whether the rest of the industry is following suit — and what you make of it. Is your company requiring vaccines, and is it a good idea?
Take the poll here, or use the embedded survey below. We will be back with the results in a few days.