As per schools, see: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics ... ts-mandate
List of Coronavirus-Related Restrictions in Every State
Most states have dropped COVID-related restrictions; several put limits on vaccine mandates
by Jenny Rough and Andy Markowitz, AARP, Updated August 8, 2022
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, governors and health departments across the country have issued orders and recommendations on the status of schools, businesses and public services.
With the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines, the closures, capacity limits and large-scale mask orders that marked earlier phases of the pandemic gave way to vaccine and testing mandates and more targeted face-covering rules, which many states extended or reinstated as the delta and omicron variants spread. As those waves receded, pandemic restrictions largely subsided as well, despite rising case counts in some areas due to the highly transmissible BA.2 subvariant.
Some states are requiring government and health care workers to get vaccinated or routinely tested. Others have resisted restrictions, barring or limiting mask and vaccine mandates and other requirements through legislation or executive action.
At the national level, President Joe Biden signed an executive order that requires health care workers and federal executive branch employees to get the vaccine. The order remains in effect for staff at health care facilities that participate in Medicare and Medicaid, but the portion covering federal workers has been blocked by an appeals court pending a scheduled September heairng on a legal challenge to the rule.
Another federal order that mandated masks on public modes of transportation, including commercial flights, and in transit hubs such as airports and bus and train stations was struck down by a federal judge April 18. The Department of Justice has appealed the ruling.
There are no longer any states with general mask orders, but several still require face-covering in certain high-risk settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes and shelters. Private businesses and venues may require masking or proof of vaccination as a condition for entry.
Here’s a look at each state’s vaccine, testing and mask requirements.
Alabama
Vaccine and testing regulations: State law bars local governments, schools and businesses from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition for admission or to receive goods or services and grants workers broad rights to get religious or medical exemptions to workplace vaccine mandates.
Gov. Kay Ivey (R) issued an order prohibiting any state executive branch agency from penalizing a business or individual for not complying with President Biden’s federal vaccine mandate.
More information: Check the state public health department’s COVID-19 page.
Alaska
Vaccine and testing regulations: Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) issued an order in April 2021 banning all executive branch departments from requiring anyone to provide proof of vaccination to travel to or around the state.
Mask regulations: Masks are required for all employees, contractors and visitors indoors in state government buildings and other state-owned facilities.
Arizona
Vaccine and testing regulations: Gov. Doug Ducey (R) signed legislation in April that prohibits state and local government entities from requiring Arizonans to get a COVID-19 vaccine, enshrining in law executive orders Ducey issued in 2021. Government-owned or -operated health care institutions are exempt. State officials also are barred from requiring COVID-19 vaccines at schools, per legislation Ducey signed in May.
Mask regulations: Ducey also signed a measure in April banning mask mandates for minors. School districts and local governments are barred from requiring anyone under age 18 to wear a mask without parental consent. In May, he signed legislation barring mask mandates in buildings run by state or local government.
Arkansas
Vaccine and testing regulations: Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) signed a bill that prohibits state and local agencies from requiring proof of vaccination to travel, participate in education or receive services.
Mask regulations: Hutchinson signed a bill that bans state and local mask mandates, but it was overturned by a state judge in December.
California
Vaccine and testing regulations: As of April 1, vaccination verification or a negative COVID-19 test is no longer required to attend indoor events with more than 1,000 people. The state Department of Public Health recommends that venues check vaccination or test status for such “mega events.”
State employees and health care workers must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or submit to regular testing (once a week). Employees who work in high-risk congregate settings, such as jails and long-term care facilities, were required to get a booster dose by March 1. School staff must be vaccinated or submit to weekly testing.
On May 3, Oakland stopped requiring proof of vaccination to enter restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, gyms and large indoor events. Proof of vaccination still is mandated at assisted living facilities and senior centers.
Mask regulations: Face-covering is required statewide for people age 2 and older in health care and long-term care facilities, emergency and homeless shelters, and jails and prisons.
In Los Angeles County, masks are mandatory on public transit and in transportation hubs such as airports and bus and train stations. The San Francisco Bay Area's BART rail system reinstated a mask requirement for riders July 28; the order is in effect through at least Oct. 1. A mask mandate for San Jose city workers has been extended to Aug. 26.
Colorado
Vaccine and testing regulations: The state Board of Public Health ended a vaccine requirement for health care workers July 14, but the change only applies to staff at facilities that do not participate in Medicare and Medicaid. State employees who interact with vulnerable populations, such as corrections and health department staff, must be vaccinated. Other state workers and contractors must be either fully vaccinated or receive COVID-19 tests twice per week.
Mask regulations: Face-covering is required in long-term care facilities and group homes; in health care settings, homeless shelters and correctional facilities in areas rated by the CDC as having medium or high community COVID-19 levels; and by health care workers who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated, regardless of local transmission levels.
Connecticut
Vaccine and testing regulations: Gov. Ned Lamont (D) mandated COVID-19 vaccines for state employees and staff at schools and childcare facilities. Certain employees may be eligible to forgo the vaccine and opt for weekly testing. In some circumstances, individuals with a medical condition or sincerely held religious beliefs may be exempt. A similar mandate applies to long-term care employees.
On Jan. 6, Lamont signed an order that requires state hospital employees and workers at long-term care facilities to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster.
Mask regulations: Face-covering is required for people age 2 and older in health care facilities, long-term care facilities and shelters.
Delaware
Vaccine and testing regulations: State government workers and staff at health care and long-term care facilities must be fully vaccinated or submit to weekly testing. The same restrictions apply for employees and volunteers in K-12 schools.
Mask regulations: A mask mandate for K-12 schools and childcare facilities ended March 31. Face-covering is still required in hospitals, long-term care facilities and state government buildings.
District of Columbia
Vaccine and testing regulations: District government employees, contractors and interns must be fully vaccinated and get a booster shot when eligible. Health care workers and employees and volunteers in K-12 schools also must meet vaccination requirements. Individuals may be exempted from the vaccine mandates because of religious beliefs or medical conditions.
Mask regulations: Face-covering is required in health care facilities; group residential settings such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, shelters and prisons; and in D.C. government buildings where employees interact directly with the public.
Florida
Vaccine and testing regulations: Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) issued an executive order in April 2021 barring businesses from requiring “vaccine passports” for entry. The prohibition has been codified into state law.
Another set of state laws adopted in November bars vaccine mandates for state government workers and requires private companies that mandate staff vaccination to allow a wide range of exemptions for unvaccinated workers.
Mask regulations: DeSantis signed orders in May 2021 prohibiting local governments and school districts from mandating masks. State law vests parents with authority to choose whether their children wear a mask in schools.
Georgia
Vaccine and testing requirements: Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed an order in August 2021 that prohibits local governments from mandating COVID-19 restrictions such as vaccination requirements for private businesses. A state law in effect through at least June 30, 2023, bars government entities from requiring vaccination as a condition for employment or receiving public services.
Mask requirements: Kemp's August 2021 order also allows bars local governments from enforcing mask mandates on private businesses without the business's consent. He signed legislation March 29 that allows parents to decide whether their children wear a mask in school, even if the local district implements a mandate.
An indoor mask mandate is in effect in Athens and Clarke County through at least Sept. 7. It is only enforced if county's community COVID-19 level is rated high by the CDC, which was not the case as of Aug. 7. Local businesses can opt out of the mandate under the governor's order.
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Hawaii
Vaccine and testing regulations: Democratic Gov. David Ige’s order that state employees show proof of vaccination or undergo regular testing was lifted March 25, as were all vaccine, testing and quarantine requirements for travel to Hawaii.
Mask regulations: Hawaii’s statewide mask mandate, the last in the country, expired March 25.
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Idaho
Vaccine and testing regulations: Gov. Brad Little (R) signed an order banning state entities from requiring people to show a vaccine passport to receive services or to enter buildings, but he vetoed legislation that would have barred most private businesses from imposing vaccine mandates on employees for one year, calling it “government overreach.”
Illinois
Vaccine and testing regulations: Employees at K-12 schools, day care centers and state-run congregate facilities such as veterans homes and detention centers must be fully vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing.
The same applies to workers at health care facilities that are not certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and thus fall outside the federal vaccine mandate. Unvaccinated staff at CMS-certified facilities must get tested weekly only if they work in an area of high community spread, under an executive order amended by Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) July 13.
Staff at long-term care facilities that house the most vulnerable residents, such as nursing homes, must get tested weekly if the facility is in an area of moderate community spread and twice weekly if local transmission is rated high, unless they are up to date with their vaccinations.
Mask regulations: Face-covering is required for people over age 2 in health care facilities, long-term care facilities and congregate settings such as prisons and homeless shelters.
Indiana
Vaccine and testing regulations: Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) signed a bill banning state and local governments from requiring vaccine passports.
Iowa
Vaccine and testing regulations: A state law enacted last year expands employees’ rights to claim religious or medical exemptions to workplace vaccine mandates. Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed legislation in June barring public and private schools, colleges and universities, and childcare centers from requiring COVID-19 vaccination as a condition for attendance.
Mask regulations: State law prohibits local governments from ordering businesses to impose mask rules. On May 16, 2022, a federal appeals court panel ruled that Iowa school districts cannot issue mask mandates unless they’re needed to comply with other federal or state laws.
Kansas
Vaccine and testing regulations: Gov. Laura Kelly (D) signed a bill requiring employers that mandate vaccines to allow for a medical or religious exemption.
Kentucky
Vaccine and testing regulations: Workers in state health care facilities who were not fully vaccinated by Oct. 1, 2021, must be regularly tested for COVID-19.
Mask regulations: Masks are required in some health care and childcare settings.
Louisiana
No current regulations: Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) ended the state’s emergency public health order March 14. There are no state vaccine or mask mandates in force, nor any prohibitions of mandates.
Maine
Vaccine and testing regulations: Health care workers had to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 29, 2021.
Maryland
Vaccine and testing regulations: Employees at state-operated residential health care, correctional and juvenile facilities must be fully vaccinated or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing. A similar mandate applies to nursing home and hospital employees.
Massachusetts
Vaccine and testing regulations: Long-term care providers and home care workers are among those who had to be vaccinated by Oct. 31, 2021. Exemptions are available to those with certain medical conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs. Gov. Charlie Baker (R) issued a similar order for executive branch employees.
Mask regulations: Masks are mandatory in long-term care facilities, medical facilities, prisons and shelters. Baker lifted a statewide mask mandate for K-12 public schools on Feb. 28.
Michigan
Vaccine and testing regulations: A state budget law enacted in September 2021 prohibits publicly funded agencies from requiring employees or customers to be vaccinated.
Minnesota
Vaccine and testing regulations: State employees must get vaccinated or submit to regular testing.
Mississippi
Vaccine and testing regulations: Gov. Tate Reeves signed legislation in April that bars state agencies and local governments from imposing COVID-19 vaccine requirements on employees or people seeking services.
Missouri
Vaccine and testing regulations: Gov. Mike Parson (R) issued an order that prohibits state agencies from compelling an individual to receive a COVID-19 vaccine or penalizing a business for noncompliance with federal vaccine mandates. State law prohibits local governments from requiring residents to show proof of vaccination to access public services.
Montana
Vaccine and testing regulations: In April 2021, Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) signed an executive order prohibiting vaccine passports in Montana. Employers, including private companies, are barred by state law from discriminating based on vaccination status.
Mask regulations: State law restricts local jurisdictions’ authority to impose mask orders, and Gianforte announced an emergency rule in August 2021 directing schools to allow parents and students to opt out of face-covering mandates.
Nebraska
Vaccine and testing regulations: Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) signed legislation on Feb. 28 requiring employers to allow for exemptions from workplace vaccine mandates for medical or religious reasons.
Nevada
Vaccine and testing regulations: A requirement that state employees who aren’t fully vaccinated submit to weekly testing was lifted on March 25.
New Hampshire
Vaccine and testing regulations: Most state and local government agencies are barred from imposing workplace vaccine requirements. The prohibition does not apply to government-run medical facilities, including nursing homes, but those facilities must grant employee requests for exemptions on medical or religious grounds under legislation signed June 24 by Gov. Chris Sununu.
New Jersey
Vaccine and testing regulations: Employees at health care facilities and congregate living facilities such as nursing homes, group homes and prisons must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Workers and contractors at schools, childcare centers and state government agencies must be fully vaccinated or get tested regularly.
Mask regulations: Face-covering is required in health care settings, prisons and homeless shelters.
New Mexico
Vaccine and testing regulations: A vaccine mandate is in place for employees who work in high-risk settings, such as hospitals and congregate care facilities. Those with a qualifying medical or religious exemption must undergo weekly COVID-19 testing. School workers who are not fully vaccinated also must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test weekly. On Dec. 2, the health department added a booster shot requirement to the vaccine mandates.
Mask regulations: Masks are required in hospitals, long-term care facilities and other congregate settings.
New York
Vaccine and testing regulations: A requirement that unvaccinated state employees submit to regular COVID-19 testing ended June 7. Patient-facing state health care employees are required to be vaccinated, without a test-out option.
In New York City, most workers in both the public and private sectors must show proof of vaccination if they work in person (at a workplace, rather than at home) or interact with the public in the course of business.
Mask regulations: Statewide, masks are required in “high-density settings” such as hospitals, nursing homes, shelters and detention facilities. New York City mandates face-covering on public transit, including subways, buses, taxis and rideshares.
North Carolina
Vaccine and testing regulations: Employees of state government cabinet agencies who aren’t vaccinated must wear a mask and submit to weekly testing.
North Dakota
Vaccine and testing regulations: State and local governments are barred from requiring employees to be vaccinated. Private employers with vaccine mandates must allow exemptions on the basis of an employee’s medical condition; a recent COVID-19 infection; religious, philosophical or moral objections to vaccination; or agreement to submit to periodic testing. Businesses are prohibited from requiring documentation of a customer’s vaccination status.
Ohio
Mask regulations: As of Aug. 1, face-covering is required inside county government buildings in Cuyahoga County, which includes Cleveland. City employees in Dayton are required to wear masks when working indoors.
Oklahoma
Vaccine and testing regulations: Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) signed an order that prohibits state agencies from requiring a visitor to show proof of vaccination to enter public buildings. The order exempts agencies that conduct medical activities requiring patient interaction.
Oregon
Vaccine and testing regulations: Health care workers and school staff must be fully vaccinated. A vaccine mandate for state government employees was lifted April 1.
Mask regulations: A statewide indoor mask mandate expired March 12. Masks are still required in congregate settings, like health care and correctional facilities.
Pennsylvania
Vaccine and testing regulations: State health care employees and workers in high-risk congregate-care facilities were required to be vaccinated by Sept. 7, 2021, or undergo regular testing. Those hired after that date had to be fully vaccinated.
Mask regulations: Philadelphia ended a citywide indoor mask mandate April 22, four days after it was imposed. City health officials said COVID-19 case counts had plateaued after a sharp rise triggered the short-lived order.
Puerto Rico
Vaccine and testing regulations: Gov. Pedro Pierluisi (D) issued an executive order in March lifting workplace vaccine and booster mandates except for those necessary to comply with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services vaccination rules.
Mask regulations: Pierluisi ended the territory’s general indoor mask order in March. Face-covering remains mandatory in schools and childcare centers, medical and long-term care facilities, prisons and group facilities serving people with intellectual disabilities.
Rhode Island
Vaccine and testing regulations: Health care workers were required to be vaccinated by Oct. 1, 2021, unless they were medically exempt.
Mask regulations: Face-covering is required for workers in health care settings where COVID-19 patients are treated.
South Carolina
Vaccine and testing regulations: Gov. Henry McMaster (R) signed legislation April 25 that bars the state, local governments and school districts from requiring COVID-19 vaccination as a condition for employment or attendance and prohibits places of public accommodation such as hospitals, restaurants, theaters and stores from denying service based on vaccination status. The measure took effect immediately and will remain in force through at least the end of 2023.
Mask regulations: There is no statewide requirement, and McMaster issued an executive order in May 2021 invalidating local mask orders in effect at the time. A local mandate covering indoor public spaces in in unincorporated parts of Richland County expired May 1.
South Dakota
Vaccine and testing regulations: Gov. Kristi Noem (R) issued an executive order in April 2021 barring state and local governments from issuing or requiring the use of vaccine passports.
Tennessee
Vaccine and testing regulations: State law prohibits private employers from compelling workers to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination and from taking “adverse action” or discriminating against those to object to getting vaccinated.
Mask regulations: Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed legislation in November restricting local governments’ authority to institute face-covering orders.
Texas
Vaccine and testing regulations: Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued executive orders barring government entities from compelling anyone to get vaccinated or requiring proof of vaccination as a condition for receiving services. Private business may require vaccination for employees or customers but must allow exemptions on grounds of religious belief, personal conscience or medical condition, including prior recovery from COVID-19.
Mask regulations: Abbott signed an order in May 2021 prohibiting local governments and school districts from instituting mask requirements.
Utah
Vaccine or testing regulations: State agencies and public universities are prohibited from requiring proof of vaccination. Private employers with workplace vaccine requirements must allow exemptions for medical reasons, prior COVID-19 infection, or religious or personal beliefs.
Vermont
Vaccine or testing regulations: State employees are required to get vaccinated or submit to weekly testing.
Virginia
Vaccine or testing regulations: Upon taking office in January, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) rescinded his predecessor’s executive order mandating vaccination for state employees.
Mask regulations: State legislation adopted in February effectively bars school mask mandates by allowing parents to decide whether or not their children wear masks in public schools and early childhood programs.
Washington
Vaccine and testing regulations: Gov. Jay Inslee (D) issued an order that mandates vaccines for state employees, including teachers, health care providers and contractors. The order allows an exemption for those with a disability or sincerely held religious beliefs.
Mask regulations: An indoor mask mandate was lifted March 12. Masks are still required in congregate settings, like health care and correctional facilities.
West Virginia
Vaccine and testing regulations: State law prohibits government entities from requiring proof of vaccination as a condition for entering their premises or utilizing services. Employers with workplace vaccine mandates are required to except employees with valid medical or religious exemptions.
Wisconsin
Vaccine and testing regulations: Executive branch employees who are unvaccinated must submit to weekly testing.
Wyoming
Vaccine and testing regulations: Gov. Mark Gordon (R) issued a directive in May 2021 that prohibits state bodies from requiring proof of vaccination to access facilities and services and encouraging, but not requiring, local governments and private business to do the same.
https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/g ... tions.html
While this is now 6 months out of date, it paints quite a different picture than the Law Firm's "tracker" posted earlier.
Vaccine Mandates by State: Who is, Who isn't, and How?
WORKFORCE | JANUARY 19, 2022 | BY DEE PEKRUHN, ERAM ABBASI
LeadingAge has started to track the vaccine mandate trends in each state; as of today’s date, we find that 25 states have vaccine mandates; 13 states (so far) have vaccine mandate bans. Seven states now have mandates for boosters and/or “up to date” vaccine statuses. Sixteen of the states with mandates have language specific to healthcare settings or long term care. Some states’ mandates are strictly ‘vaccinate or terminate;’ others have a ‘vaccinate or weekly testing’ dichotomy. This article will be subject to change and updated as there are new developments.
This article will be subject to change and updated as there are new developments.
*Updated: Wednesday, February 9 2022
So far, there are 25 states that require vaccination for employees of various categories; seven are now requiring boosters or “up to date” status of vaccines. Of those, twenty-one specify requirements for healthcare workers, and the majority of those states require vaccination or regular testing of unvaccinated employees. Six states have taken a “vaccinate or terminate” approach, only permitting healthcare workers to be unvaccinated if they have a valid religion or medical exemption as defined for by the EEOC. Thirteen states have passed laws that ban employers from mandating vaccines for workers; three more states are expected to enact such bans in the near future.
Three states (Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina) are rumored to be working on vaccine mandates for state workers, but these mandates have not yet materialized.
Below, we break down, by type and by requirement specification, which states have put forth mandates or bans and under what circumstances. Also, we highlight some interesting caveats that states have put forth within their mandate or ban. Hyperlinks are included for reference and further reading. As this is subject to rapid change, information written below is valid as of today’s posting date: February 9, 2022.
Worker Specification Key:
*Denotes that the mandate applies to state health care employees or facilities ONLY.
^Denotes that the mandate applies to long term care/ nursing homes ONLY.
#Denotes that the mandate applies to ALL high risk and/or congregate living settings
+Denotes that the mandate applies to ALL healthcare settings.
States that mandate boosters or “up to date vaccine status” for healthcare workers:
· California - Boosters
· Connecticut - Boosters
· Illinois - Boosters
· Massachusetts - Boosters
· New Jersey – “Up to Date” Status
· New Mexico - Boosters
· New York – Boosters* Pending Approval
States that mandate for health care workers, “vaccination or termination” [editorial note: 6 states]
· Colorado+#: By October 31 2021
· Maine+: By October 1 2021
· New York+: By September 27 2021
· Oregon*: By October 18
· Rhode Island+: By October 1 2021
· Washington^: By October 4 2021
States that mandate for health care workers, “vaccination or testing”
· California+#: By September 30 2021
· District of Columbia+: September 30 2021
· Delaware+: By September 30 2021
· Kentucky*: By October 1 2021
· Massachusetts^: By October 10 2021
· Mississippi^: By September 30 2021
· Nevada*: By August 15 2021
· New Jersey#: By September 7 2021
· New Mexico+: By August 2 2021
· North Carolina*: By September 30 2021
· Pennsylvania+#: By September 7 2021
· Vermont*: By TBD.
· Wisconsin*: By TBD
States that mandate for health care workers, “vaccination or testing and masking”
· Connecticut^: By September 7 2021
· Illinois*: By October 4 2021
· Maryland*: By September 1 2021
Thirteen States that ban vaccine mandates for employees:
· Arizona: Ban applies to all employers except healthcare. Healthcare institutions are permitted – but not mandated – to require vaccinations. However, they must provide “reasonable accommodation” for any who are unvaccinated.
· Arkansas*: Ban scope is only state entities; does not address private sector employers.
· Florida: Ban scope includes ALL private and public employers, and employers who violate the ban face a $10,000 per employee violation fine.
· Georgia*: Ban scope is only state entities; does not address private sector employers.
· Idaho: Ban scope is only state entities; does not address private sector employers.
· Indiana*: Ban scope is only state entities; does not address private sector employers.
· Kansas: Ban scope includes ALL private and public employers.
· Montana: Ban applies to all employers except healthcare. Healthcare institutions are permitted to ask employees to voluntarily share their status, and may assume that anyone who does not share their status is unvaccinated. However, they must provide “reasonable accommodation” for any who are unvaccinated.
· New Hampshire*: Generally bans the mandate of vaccines as condition of employment unless a “direct threat” exists (see link for definition) that cannot be addressed by other means or reasonable accommodation
· North Dakota*: Ban scope is only state entities; does not address private sector employers.
· Tennessee*: Ban scope is only state entities; does not address private sector employers.
· Texas: Ban scope includes ALL private and public employers.
· Utah*: Ban scope is only state entities; does not address private sector employers.
Interesting Caveats:
· Arizona: Requires “reasonable accommodation” for unvaccinated staff in all settings, and bans vaccine passports.
· Connecticut: Employer may not hire unvaccinated staff or volunteers.
· Kentucky: Suggestion, not really a mandate; twice a week testing.
· Montana: General ban, except that healthcare employers are permitted to ask employees to voluntarily share their vaccination status for the purposes of reasonable accommodation only. Also bans vaccine passports.
· New York: Only requires ONE dose by deadline for healthcare workers.
· Oregon: Stipulates that vaccination is by deadline OR six weeks following full FDA approval, whichever date is LATER.
· Pennsylvania: All new hires must be vaccinated prior to starting to work.
https://leadingage.org/workforce/vaccin ... nt-and-how