As per the Biden administration’s new vaccine mandates, several companies are now saying that their employees will be banned if they fail to comply with vaccination requirements.
On Oct. 14, the Navy released new guidance setting a timeline for removing members who are refusing the COVID vaccine. The Navy first announced its vaccination mandate in late August, after the Pentagon issued new vaccination requirements for all U.S. military departments. All service members were given 90 days to comply.
Under the new guidance, all active-duty sailors must be fully vaccinated by Nov. 28. Those in the selected reserve have until Dec. 28. Any sailor not fully vaccinated by these dates will face discharge from the Navy.
According to the guidance, those removed from the Navy for refusing the vaccine could receive a general discharge under honorable conditions, which could result in the loss of some veterans’ benefits.
“Tragically, there have been 164 deaths within the Navy family due to COVID-19, far exceeding the combined total of all other health or mishap related injuries and deaths over the same time period,” John B. Nowell Jr., the Chief of Naval Personnel, said in a statement.
Recommended Read: US Employees Can Get $5,250 Towards Student Loans Tax-Free until 2025
He added that 144 of those individuals were not vaccinated, while the vaccination status of the other 20 is still unknown.
Airlines have also embraced the vaccination mandates.
“We have consistently advocated that all American Airlines team members—and all eligible individuals around the world—should get vaccinated, and we appreciate the tens of thousands of team members who did so during our incentive program,” American Airlines CEO Doug Parker and President Robert Isom said in a letter to employees. “It is clear that team members who choose to remain unvaccinated will not be able to work at American Airlines.”
Businesses have already previously enacted proof of vaccination requirements, especially in indoor dining places.
Customers are allowed to submit exemptions for religious or medical reasons, but businesses must require those customers to use outdoor facilities or show evidence of a recent negative COVID test if no outdoor facilities are available, according to the Los Angeles Times. If you have no proof of vaccination or exemption, you are only allowed to enter indoor spaces briefly to use the restroom or pick up an order, per the new ordinance.
Fines for defying the vaccine mandate will start being enacted on Nov. 29. According to the ordinance, the first violation will warrant a warning, while the second and third violations will come with a $1,000 fine, and subsequent violations will result in a $5,000 penalty.
Keep up with more vaccine-related news here with us at the East County Gazette.
