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* Gov. JB Pritzker was asked today how the FDA’s approval of the Pfizer vaccine and subsequent Pentagon vaccine mandate for service members alters his “leverage” with state employees, teachers or other people. “Will you expand vaccine mandates now that this full approval is here?” His response…
Well, it’s not about leverage. I mean, let’s start with the idea that there are people who have been hesitant to get vaccinated because these vaccines were only under emergency use authorization. At this point now today, as a result of what the FDA has done, there is reams and reams of research that has now been done to prove that these vaccines are effective, especially the mRNA vaccines, like Pfizer. And so I’m very happy about that. I think so many people who may have been hesitant, wondering whether it was approved too quickly, now, literally almost a year later, we now have so much research to show these work. I’m very happy about that. I think that that means many more people will choose to get vaccinated. And I do think that there will be private institutions that will choose to require vaccinations now that it’s no longer under EUA.
Please pardon all transcription errors.
* The Question: How long should the governor wait before mandating the COVID-19 vaccine for all state employees? Make sure to explain your answer, even if you believe that he shouldn’t ever mandate the vax.
*** UPDATE *** Crain’s…
City will require workers to get vaccine: Lightfoot. "We absolutely have to have a vaccine mandate. It's for the safety of all involved." https://t.co/O9G9WU97HT pic.twitter.com/xsXPg3ml76
— Crain's Chicago Business (@CrainsChicago) August 23, 2021
* But it’s not yet a done deal…
“City employees are absolutely going to be required to be vaccinated,” she said, adding that discussions are still ongoing with the unions that represent most city workers, but specific announcements would land in the coming days. “We absolutely have to have a vaccine mandate. It’s for the safety of all involved, particularly members of the public, who are interacting with city employees on a daily basis.”
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 11:38 am
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He will wait a month or two, I believe. It will probably be when the next vaccine is fully approved. The sooner the better as far as I am concerned.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 11:42 am
With the FDA approval the mandate should go into effect today with both shots completed before 11/1/2021. Gets everyone fully vaxed up before the Thanksgiving holiday and gives time to get people scheduled.
Comment by Seats Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 11:43 am
Shouldn’t wait. We need to seriously try to beat this thing. There could be a strictly enforced alternative to vaccination: mandatory regular testing. With that combo, there’s zero reason to delay.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 11:43 am
Wouldn’t he have to negotiate that with the employees unions?
Comment by Guzzlepot Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 11:45 am
Wait out the union leadership, it’s their people
Comment by Rabid Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 11:45 am
He should wait about 5 more minutes…because being alive is cool.
(Vaxxed NEA member)
Comment by Cheap Seats Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 11:47 am
Do it now, and set either end of September or October as a deadline.
Secretary White gave the “vaccines for all state employees” movement a boost as he’s mandated it for all his employees by Sept. 1.
Comment by EssentialStateEmployeefromChatham Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 11:47 am
0 days. He should wait 0 days as vaccination is really our only way out of this.
Politically, it’s a bit trickier and maybe a bit of a wait is wise. But eh… just do it now!
Comment by Guy Probably Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 11:48 am
He should wait for as long as it takes to draft the order. Then issue it and enforce it. There’s no reason not to.
Comment by Back to the Mountains Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 11:49 am
===He will wait ===
I didn’t ask you to predict anything.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 11:50 am
Give it a week and mandate it for schools too.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 11:52 am
He should do it now.
Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 11:52 am
He should announce that beginning Oct. 15 all employees should be vaccinated or undergo testing twice a week. That gives everyone enough time to get their shots and allow time for people to get a free sick day for recovery with minimal impact on the workforce.
Comment by Just Me 2 Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 11:52 am
“He should wait about 5 more minutes” I think he should had done it 5 minutes ago and the unions (plural) should have been clamoring for it long before that. (Vaxxed AFSCME)
Comment by Skeptic Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 11:54 am
He should not wait. he should lead and do it now. the more mandates the better.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 11:55 am
I support a vaccine mandate, but I believe that in it’s current form that the Pritzker Administration is proposing a bad mandate policy. I presume the final version will have a process to allow for people to request an exemption from the mandate for factors like health.
Jesse White’s vaccine mandate is mentioned, but it still is “get vaccinated or undergo testing every two weeks.” That’s a pretty soft mandate and I think there would be less resistance if the Pritzker’s administration’s mandate had mirrored the mandate from California’s governor, or Secretary White as an example.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 11:57 am
He will never do so, he is too busy leading from behind- Toni Preckwinkle
The tail wags the dog
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 11:58 am
I’m hoping after Labor Day. The rising numbers in the Bible Belt should provide some political cover.
Comment by Jocko Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 11:59 am
He should wait only long enough to put necessary accompanying policies in place, like an alternative (regular testing, for example) and ideally extra sick time to get the vaccine and deal with any side effects.
Comment by wildcat12 Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 12:00 pm
He should issue a mandate now. People who were genuinely concerned about EUA approval now have a fully approved option. Get moving, people.
Comment by Leslie K Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 12:02 pm
What is there to wait for at this point? If full approval was it, that just happened today. He has a good relationship with labor, so if he hasn’t already done it, have a conversation with union leaders, so they don’t find out about it in the news media, but there’s no reason to wait. A joint statement would be even better, perhaps combined with an agreement for Covid benefit time. So many failures during the pandemic were caused by slow action. Let’s not add this to the long list. The time for the mandate is today, not tomorrow or next week or next month. It is the only answer that protects employees and the public to the greatest degree possible.
Comment by AC Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 12:03 pm
As soon as possible. Like before the end of the day.
Comment by Common Sense Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 12:04 pm
===How long should the governor wait before mandating the COVID-19 vaccine for all state employees?===
As long as the length of time isn’t predicated on appeasing any union that does NOT have its membership’s best interest… then I’d say the governor should announce tomorrow morning, first thing.
Any union not in agreement with this mandate is not a union built on why organized labor exists.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 12:04 pm
The sooner the better. This afternoon if possible. There is no point in waiting.
The issue needs to be forced with the anti-vax union members.
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 12:05 pm
With the caveat that I think all so-called “mandates” should include a 24 hour neg testing option (even w/o a bona fide religious or health exemption), yesterday. Otherwise you’re not consistent with your rhetoric and you’re knowingly putting our most vulnerable at risk.
Comment by lake county democrat Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 12:12 pm
There is no reason for Pritzker or the unions to not accept a compromise like mandatory vaccination or regular testing for those who can’t or won’t get vaccinated. Folks who don’t like that can try to get other jobs or not run for elected office.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 12:26 pm
I think he should mandate it immediately. I feel AFSCME needs to stand up to those internal factions who are anti vacs. I don’t feel the union should be pandering to those same communities who give union leadership crap on everything, especially when it’s political. Getting vaxed is in the unions permanent interests.
Comment by Honeybear Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 12:26 pm
JB should institute vax mandates for state workers ASAP and should require all HS Students age 16 and older be vaxxed as well.
Comment by Hot Taeks Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 12:28 pm
The time to wait is over and a mandate should be issued post-haste. It’s time to make life incredibly difficult for the unvaxxed. Period.
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 12:29 pm
Immediately. Anyone who screams “Collective Bargaining” should be supplied a copy of Jacobson v. Massachusetts
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacobson_v._Massachusetts
Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 12:29 pm
He’s already waited too long. The order should have been signed within one minute of the FDA approval.
Comment by Keyrock Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 12:34 pm
I believe 30 days should be sufficient. I am against the mandate, but agree that it is needed and necessary.
Comment by Not a expert Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 12:47 pm
Pritzker should enact a mandate as quickly as possible.
Vaccine hesitancy is not rational, and no amount of rational evidence is going to convince a significant number of state employees who still have not been vaccinated to budge.
Their opposition is not about scientific evidence.
Meanwhile, they put all of their coworkers and the public they serve in harm’s way.
Comment by Thomas Paine Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 12:58 pm
Governor Pritzker should extend the mandates immediately to all state employees and school employees. No more excuses for the vax holdouts should be accepted. The only exemptions should be for valid medical reasons.
Comment by Manchester Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 12:58 pm
Now with ample time for people to get fully vaxxed. Proof by Halloween (trick or treat) or All Saints Day (Pope Francis sez vax is love). Wilfully unvaxxed to be fired with no unemployment benefits.
Comment by Vaxxed Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 12:59 pm
Very quickly. With caveat. If you can prove you can work with 100% efficiency from home, no mandate. But if you can’t. Get shot and show up for work.
Comment by Blue Dog Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 1:02 pm
Mandate it now, with the understanding that it take a month or so for employees to get their 2 shots.
For those who say it’s their personal choice, they have another choice - to work for the State of Illinois or not.
I hear McDonald’s is hiring.
If government doesn’t lead, we’ll never beat this virus.
Comment by Sir Reel Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 1:11 pm
=== I hear McDonald’s is hiring.===
Narrator: McDonalds has mandated the vaccine
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 1:13 pm
If we really cared about public health and not politics, he’d make it mandatory today.
But, it’s Illinois and politics comes first - always.
Comment by DuPage Moderate Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 1:21 pm
-Narrator: McDonalds has mandated the vaccine -
At all the stores? I think not, most don’t even work for McDonald’s, they work for the franchise owner.
Comment by Vax-o-rama Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 1:25 pm
Do it now, but not just because they are state employees. Most employers should do the same. Unvaccinated people raise the risk for all employees (and customers where the person has customer contact).
From a purely business standpoint it makes sense. Fewer missed day, few overall health care costs.
One more note: can we all stop citing Jacobson v. Mass? When you read the opinion, there are specific factors in that case that distinguish it from most of the Covid actions. It is up in the air as to how courts will rule, but no matter how they rule, that case will not be determinative or even persuasive.
Comment by Crash Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 1:25 pm
Yep, my body his choice
Comment by Yep Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 1:29 pm
=== At all the stores? I think not, most don’t even work for McDonald’s, they work for the franchise owner.===
Think on that. The corporate offices, globally, will require.
This? CNBC, August 11th, 2021
=== However, like Walmart, the vaccine mandate only applies to McDonald’s office employees, not restaurant-level workers that are operated by the company or franchisees. Restaurants and retailers have been struggling to find enough willing workers to staff their locations, and employers fear that vaccine mandates could alienate potential applicants or cause some existing workers to quit.===
So… are the reasons people aren’t working because they are lazy… or don’t want to get a vaccine?
Thats why mandates, like for state employees, are critical.
Or… go work for a company willing to keep the “corporates” safe, but really don’t care for the health of the vulnerable, “because ‘Merica”
The sooner the governor mandates the better.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 1:34 pm
Announce it now. Maske some reasonable accomodations for people who can’t receive the vaccine for medical reasons, and give a sufficient amount of time for everyone to find a vaccine appointment. But he should do it as soon as his staff can type up the order.
Comment by Benjamin Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 1:34 pm
=== Yep, my body his choice ===
You have a choice whether or not to be a public employee.
If you choose to be a public employee, your employment requires you to meet a lot of conditions to maintain the safety and well-being of your co-workers and the public.
So yes, it’s still your choice.
Comment by Thomas Paine Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 1:39 pm
As soon as practicable. Remember lead, follow or get out of the way? Lead on mandated vaccines.
Comment by Original Rambler Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 1:42 pm
“ How long should the governor wait before mandating the COVID-19 vaccine for all state employees?”
However long it took to get from the presser to an office where he could issue an order, and not a nanosecond longer.
Need to get the percentage up, to help everyone out.
Comment by Chris Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 1:49 pm
==So… are the reasons people aren’t working because they are lazy… or don’t want to get a vaccine?==
Maybe people aren’t working because they don’t want to get the COVID.
Who wants to show up at work one day and at the ICU the next?
Comment by Glenn Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 1:50 pm
=== Maybe people aren’t working because they don’t want to get the COVID.
Who wants to show up at work one day and at the ICU the next?===
Yep. Vaccination reduces risk. Mandating vaccinations helps society too.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 1:52 pm
===Yep, my body his choice===
Amazing how many people out there are secretly pro-choice.
Comment by LakeCo Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 1:54 pm
Literally my job is public servant and I see no reason for my union to protest. Decision should be very soon.
Comment by Lurker Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 1:56 pm
Was in a team meeting today and this came up. Out of 10 ppl in my group 6 of them expressed concern over a mandate. The same 6 also never want to go back to the office.
The two issues should not coincide with one another. The mandate should be in place now but it should not be an automatic end of WFH.
Comment by Alice Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 2:08 pm
Right about now would be fine. Throw in 2 extra sick days for any employee who submits proof of full vaccination.
Comment by SAP Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 2:24 pm
Allow a 2-week period to permit locations to have sufficient vaccine and the staff to administer, as some have likely began reducing both.
Beginning mid-September, require state, county and local employees that need to be fully vaccinated by November 1. And school and park district staff.
Comment by bogey golfer Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 2:28 pm
I would have liked to see him do it within minutes of the FDA decision. Its not like they could prepare the release ahead of time. It should be immediate with a window to allow reasonable access to appointments. Time to lead.
Comment by What's in a name? Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 2:51 pm
Let the FDA full approval of the Pfizer vaccine sink in through the evening’s news cycle, then issue mandates tomorrow.
Comment by Wensicia Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 2:51 pm
The mandate should be made and take effect as soon as possible. Because the reality is that even with the Pfizer vaccine full immunity isn’t realized until 6 weeks after the first dose. As we’ve seen this summer things can get a whole lot worse in 6 weeks.
Comment by Pundent Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 2:52 pm
He should do it sooner rather than later. But know that A mandate is only as good as it’s consequences. When employees are told they have to get a vaccine and they say “or what?” JB needs to have strict guidance in place. I imagine that’s what is taking so long with AFSCME currently.
Comment by NeveroddoreveN Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 3:42 pm
Don’t hesitate. Now. Lives are at risk hourly.
Comment by Well-read guy Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 3:54 pm
As I said earlier, there needs to be a vax mandate for all remaining state employees in all constitutional offices. Preferably by September or October, especially in case another winter wave happens this year.
And perhaps tie vaccination compliance to scheduled union raises? Either at least 80-90% (preferably more) employees in a bargaining unit fully vaccinated or the Governor issues an executive order cancelling the scheduled January raises.
Comment by EssentialStateEmployeefromChatham Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 4:11 pm
=== Either at least 80-90% (preferably more) employees in a bargaining unit fully vaccinated or the Governor issues an executive order cancelling the scheduled January raises.===
Why?
The mandate or lose your job.
No need to try to attach already bargained items to an order that legally the governor can make?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 4:16 pm
==The mandate or lose your job.==
Absolutely agree on that.
Comment by EssentialStateEmployeefromChatham Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 5:01 pm
I’m pro-mandate and realize that time is of the essence but I wish we weren’t in a situation where only 1 of the 3 available vaccines was fully approved. I think it would be better for mandates if at least Moderna was also fully approved. That being said, because of the danger of Delta, a mandate for all State employees should be issued ASAP.
Comment by MyTwoCents Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 5:25 pm
Honeybear - Now there is a blast from the past. Long time, no hear from. Things a bit easier now than before? How’s is daughter in NROTC?
I for one have missed the Chaplain. A voice of reason and succinct comments.
Comment by Huh? Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 7:11 pm
To the post, mandatory vaccination for all except dcoumented medical reasons.
Comment by Huh? Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 7:14 pm
“And perhaps tie vaccination compliance to scheduled union raises? Either at least 80-90% (preferably more) employees in a bargaining unit fully vaccinated or the Governor issues an executive order cancelling the scheduled January raises.”
Haha, this might be the best cooky comment of all. Do you live even live in this state?
Comment by ESR Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 8:09 pm
Unclear why it wasn’t today. Seriously. What’s different tomorrow? He’s going to do it because it’s the right thing to do so why wait even one day?
Comment by Glass half full Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 10:25 pm