On April 20, 2021, OSHA released guidance to employers regarding potential plans to mandate Covid 19 vaccines, stating that if vaccines are required for employment, any adverse reactions to the vaccine will be considered ‘work related’ and, therefore compensable under workers’ compensation.
To which OSHA responds, “If you require your employees to be vaccinated as a condition of employment (i.e., for work-related reasons), then any adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine is work-related” and, therefore, “the adverse reaction is recordable.”
According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, the clarification comes as an increasing number of employers seek to mandate the experimental vaccine, with some threatening termination if employees do not comply. The new OSHA guidelines puts companies on notice that they will be held liable if injuries occur due to the requirements.
If you are injured on the job or have been wrongfully terminated, contact the Quad Cities workers’ compensation, personal injury and employment law attorneys of McDonald, Woodward & Carlson PC for immediate assistance at 563-355-6478.