05 Mar

Posted at 18:08h in COVID-19, Employee Benefits by . .

After you’ve received your COVID-19 vaccination, it’s normal to wonder what’s next.

Many questions exist, such as whether you can contract COVID-19 again, what safety precautions you should continue and when life might go back to normal. While a COVID-19 vaccination is a critical step toward returning to a sense of normalcy, it’s important to continue to prioritize the safety of yourself and those around you.

05 Mar

Posted at 17:54h in COVID-19, Employee Benefits by . .

News Brief header The White House recently announced that drugmaker Merck & Co., will help produce competitor Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine to expand its production and supply.

President Joe Biden’s administration will play a key role in this partnership. The administration has invoked the Defense Production Act to get two Merck facilities up to the standards necessary to safely manufacture the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. While it will take months to fully equip these plants, Merck has extensive experience and capacity as a vaccine producer and is prepared to use these two facilities to vastly increase supply.  

05 Mar

Posted at 17:41h in COVID-19, Employee Benefits by . .

News Brief header The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine to be distributed in the United States for use by individuals 18 years of age and older.

This authorization follows a recommendation from the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) to issue a EUA for the vaccine, and confirms that Americans will have access to a third effective coronavirus vaccine that will allow states to increase distribution.

26 Feb

Posted at 17:25h in COVID-19, Employee Benefits by . .

News Brief header The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released an analysis that found that Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective.

According to the FDA, the vaccine meets requirements for an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). The vaccine, developed by Janssen Biotech Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, has been found to have 72% efficacy in the United States, while proving less effective in Latin America and South Africa, where a highly contagious variant is behind most new cases. The vaccine has also demonstrated 86% efficacy against severe forms of COVID-19 in the United States, with 82% against severe outcomes in South Africa.

19 Feb

Posted at 16:21h in COVID-19, HR and Operations by . .

HR Compliance Bulletin header image The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidance on the elements of consent and disclosures necessary to support employee decision-making when employers incorporate workplace COVID-19 testing.

Differences in position and authority (such as workplace hierarchies), as well as employment status in nonstandard working arrangements (e.g., temporary help, contract help or part-time employment) can affect an employee’s ability to make free decisions. This guidance suggests measures employers can take when developing a testing program.