SNOPES RATES THIS AS TRUE (with some context): White House Staff Are Not Required To Get Vaccinated for COVID

Snopes Fact Check ^ | 08/24/2021 | Jordan Liles

[SeekAndFind]

Claim

Employees at the White House, CDC, FDA, WHO, Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson are not currently required to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

RATING

TRUE

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Context

As of August 2021, employees of the White House, CDC, FDA, WHO, Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson, were not required to be vaccinated for COVID-19. However, some of these places required regular testing and various precautions for people who did not wish to be vaccinated. Also, both Moderna and Johnson & Johnson have set a deadline of early October for all workers to be vaccinated, unless they have a specific exemption.

Origin

In August 2021, various memes claimed to show a “list of employers not requiring their employees to get vaccinated” for COVID-19, including staff in the White House, CDC, FDA, WHO, Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson (the latter three are pharmaceutical companies that provide COVID vaccinations to the public). The phrase “White House vaccine mandate” trended on Google around the same time.

A reader sent in this screenshot:

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It’s true that, as of August 2021, these organizations did not require staff to be vaccinated for COVID. However, there’s a bit of context that’s important here.

[SeekAndFind]

From Pfizer:

Pfizer is requiring all U.S. colleagues and contractors to become vaccinated as a condition of work or participate in regular weekly COVID-19 testing. This is to best protect the health and safety of our colleagues and the communities we serve. Outside the U.S., the company is strongly encouraging all colleagues who are able to do so in their countries get vaccinated. Colleagues who have medical conditions or religious objections will be able to seek accommodations. Colleagues are still required to adhere to all COVID-19 state, local, and Pfizer safety procedures while engaged in Pfizer work.

[Jane Long]

Anyone in jeopardy of losing their job, due to these absurd mandates (that many of the VPs, here, said would NEVER happen) just need to tell their employers that they identify as a White House, FDA, CDC, or a WHO employee.

[Jane Long]

Everyone should have those same options, at the very least.

Especially our dear military.

[SeekAndFind]

FROM JOHNSON AND JOHNSON:

As a global healthcare leader, Johnson & Johnson remains committed to following the science and to taking appropriate measures to support the health and well-being of our employees and contractors, as well as to uphold our responsibilities to the communities in which we live and work. As COVID-19 continues to devastate families and cause untold hardship, the data shows getting vaccinated is critical to helping end the pandemic.

On August 16th, the Company announced that effective October 4th, all employees and contractors of Johnson & Johnson in the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Individuals who have medical conditions or other reasons not to be vaccinated will be able to seek accommodations.

[SeekAndFind]

FROM WHO:

We contacted the World Health Organization (WHO) to ask if it had a vaccine policy. In response, WHO spokesperson Dr. Margaret Harris told us: “In line with UN Medical Directors consensus opinion, COVID-19 vaccination is strongly encouraged but is currently not mandatory for personnel.”

[DYngbld]

I told my company I identified as a fully vaxed person. That got about as far as I expected it to.

Anyone hiring 50 year old, straight, white, Christian, males?

[Jane Long]

I’ve read (from posts, here) to NOT quit, whatever you do.

Make them put in writing what they’re requiring and the liability they will assume, should you take ANY required vaccine/drug and it make you ill.

Make them fire you/let you go.

I think there have been a few threads about what to do. I realize everyone’s situation is unique, but they offered general guidelines.

Good luck.

(Did you EVER think you’d see this happening, in your career lifetime?)

[Intar]

Anyone hiring 50 year old, straight, white, Christian, males?

Didn't those get cancel cultured?

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Anyone hiring 50 year old, straight, white, Christian, males?

Have a look at this and continue checking:

https://www.citizensjournal.us/gab-launches-brand-new-job-board-to-help-unvaccinated-americans/

Gab Launches Brand-New Job Board To Help Unvaccinated Americans (’Is your employer forcing you to inject a foreign substance into your body?’)

[Jane Long]

Wonderful, for GAB to be doing this.

GETTR should do the same.

Thx!

[Celerity]

I need sales people. I’ve always had problems hiring for this position.

[Mygirlsmom]

This is the same weasel words my company is using. “Required” vax OR wear a mask and get tested. I chose the latter

Today I got a notice “requiring” me to fill out an Accomodation form stating the reason I am not getting vaxxed. It states that based on the reasons given more information (medical, etc) may be required, and My “accommodation” could be denied.

I am not Asking for an exemption. I am following the policy they set. Exactly what are they accommodating?

[Sgt_Schultze]

I’ve got to think companies mandating these jabs open themselves up to future lawsuits from employees infected by a communicable disease that the company did NOT require extra cautionary treatment. After all, once the company establishes a care and medical caution responsibility, it’s not reasonable to expect them to pick which diseases are permitted to pass among employees. Once they accept the responsibility, lawyers will sue to make it plenary.

[cgbg]

You might want to have an exploratory conversation with a lawyer specializing in employment issues.

You could always decide not to hire them—but you might learn a bit about your legal rights in your location.

[simpson96]

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