Many employees look forward to year-end workplace holiday celebrations. These events allow employees to celebrate with their colleagues and sometimes even family and guests. Importantly, these celebrations can also be a great way to drive employee engagement. While these events are often a long-standing company tradition, many organizations canceled holiday parties last year or found…
As the holidays approach and COVID-19 vaccination eligibility expands to younger children, many Americans may be making plans to travel. According to Tripadvisor, 55% of Americans plan to travel this winter, which is a 5% increase from those who traveled last winter. Not surprisingly, the most popular travel dates are the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays….
On Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorsed a low-dose version of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11. The approved vaccine is one-third of the amount given to adults. With the CDC’s green light, parents can now seek vaccinations for their children immediately. The Food and Drug…
On Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized both Moderna and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine booster shots. The agency also authorized the use of “mixing and matching” any of the three available COVID-19 vaccines, including the Pfizer-BioNTech version. In other words, if an individual has received a full dose…
With the fall and winter months comes flu season. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu activity peaks between December and February, so now’s the time to ensure you’re prepared. Social distancing and mask mandates significantly prevented a “twindemic” last year as the flu season coincided with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic….
On Oct. 4, 2021, the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Treasury (Departments) issued FAQs addressing rules regarding premium incentives for COVID-19 vaccinations and rapid coverage of preventive services for COVID-19. Highlights Premium discounts for COVID-19 vaccination generally must be offered as part of a wellness program. These wellness programs…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued a statement recommending a distribution plan for booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The agency recommends a booster dose for specific vulnerable populations and those in high-risk occupational and institutional settings. This guidance comes as CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky endorsed the agency’s Advisory…
President Joe Biden’s administration is continuing its efforts to curb the COVID-19 pandemic and the spread of the deadly coronavirus Delta variant. Recently, the White House ordered all federal workers and contractors to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Now, the government is imposing a similar requirement on private employers. The move is estimated to affect over…
On Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine. It is the first full approval of any coronavirus vaccine in the United States. The other vaccines, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, are still available under emergency use authorization (EUA) granted by the FDA. The Moderna…
With a growing percentage of the United States population fully vaccinated against COVID-19, many localities and, in turn, employers, have eased mask mandates and policies. However, due to the spread of an emerging variant of coronavirus known as Delta, these policies may still need updating, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has…