Anticipating a COVID Vaccine: Considerations for Employers and Consumer Facing Businesses

A COVID-19 vaccine may be ready for distribution in the United States by the end of the year. Polls show that a significant percentage of Americans are reluctant to get vaccinated, at least initially, and public health officials are recommending a cautious approach to the issue. U.S. businesses will have to resolve important and potentially controversial questions once vaccines become available, including the issue of whether companies should require vaccinations of their employees and/or customers. News reports also suggest that vaccination may be required by federal and/or state governments, which would be an unprecedented mandate leading to additional compliance questions and potential liability concerns for businesses. 

During this webinar, a special edition of our Third Thursday webinar series, we will discuss the current status of vaccine development in the context of the FDA’s emergency use authorization process, as well as lessons learned from other mandatory vaccination programs in schools and in the healthcare sector. Our panel will also discuss liability issues focusing on anticipated litigation trends concerning the evolving standard of care in COVID-19 exposure litigation, and important employment law questions businesses will have to address in deciding on a course of action to minimize legal and reputational risk.