Restaurant Workers: Az Vaccine Eligibility

As COVID-19 vaccines have been rolled out, restaurant workers in Arizona have been asking when they will be eligible for vaccination. While some states have included restaurant workers in Phase 1b of their vaccine rollouts, Arizona has not yet included them in this phase. Restaurant workers in Arizona have expressed frustration at not being prioritized for vaccination, especially as they often work in close quarters with maskless customers. However, vaccine eligibility depends on various factors, including the availability of doses and the state's allocation of vaccine supply. Pima County in Arizona has expanded vaccine eligibility to frontline essential workers, which includes restaurant workers. Maricopa County has also prioritized essential workers for the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. While Arizona has not mandated COVID-19 vaccines for restaurant workers, many restaurants are complying with President Biden's federal mandate, which requires weekly testing for unvaccinated employees.

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Vaccine eligibility for restaurant workers in AZ

As of 2021, Arizona had not prioritized restaurant workers for COVID-19 vaccines, causing frustration among workers who often have to be in close proximity to maskless members of the public. However, in March 2021, Pima County expanded vaccine eligibility to frontline essential workers, including those in restaurants and bars. Maricopa County also announced that it would be giving the one-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to prioritized frontline workers, including restaurant employees.

While Arizona has banned vaccine mandates for state employees, individual restaurants can still implement their own vaccination policies. Restaurants that mandate vaccinations should assess any obligations to pay employees for time spent getting vaccinated and may consider offering incentives, such as extra pay or additional paid time off in case of side effects. Restaurants should also be aware of any obligations to accommodate employees who are unable to be vaccinated due to a disability or sincerely held religious belief.

If a restaurant chooses to mandate vaccinations for all employees, it should also consider whether to require new hires to be vaccinated and whether to ask for proof of vaccination status from customers and suppliers. Restaurants should also decide who will be responsible for enforcing vaccination requirements and how they will communicate their vaccination policy to customers.

To find out about their eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines, Arizona restaurant workers can check for updated information on the ADHS website and locally to county websites, including the Maricopa County and Pima County websites.

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Johnson & Johnson vaccine for frontline workers

Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine is a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses an inactivated adenovirus as a delivery method. It is the first and only protein-based COVID-19 vaccine approved in the U.S. The vaccine was granted an EUA on February 27, 2021, and was distributed through employer-based vaccination events in coordination with local health departments.

In Arizona, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was allocated specifically for vaccinating frontline workers, including restaurant workers. To be eligible, food workers must meet the definition of a frontline essential worker, i.e., they are "at highest risk for work-related exposure due to required work-related duties performed onsite, and that involve being in close proximity (less than 6 feet) to members of the public or coworkers."

Counties in Arizona were able to prioritize essential workers as they chose. Maricopa County, for example, did not ask for proof of citizenship or residency for vaccine recipients. Pima County also opened eligibility to restaurant workers and people ages 55 and older.

In addition to developing a vaccine, Johnson & Johnson has supported frontline health workers through donations, education, and advocacy. They have committed \$50 million to support doctors, nurses, midwives, and community health workers fighting COVID-19. They have also provided funding to organizations such as the American Nurses Foundation and the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund to help respond to the pandemic.

Vaccine registration and appointment processes

To register for a COVID-19 vaccine in Arizona, you must first set up an account with the Arizona Department of Health Services website. You will need to provide an email address, to which a verification code will be sent. After verifying your account, you will create a password. You can then log in and make an appointment for yourself or a dependent/family member.

You will be asked to provide contact and insurance information. There is no cost for the vaccine, but insurance companies will pay for an administration fee. You can then choose your date and location based on your zip code. You can only schedule within your county of residence, unless you choose a state-run site. You will need to provide consent to get the vaccine and complete a health screening.

If you are unable to find an available appointment, you can visit azhealth.gov/find vaccine. You can also contact the ADHS via email or phone. You may also check with your primary care physician's office to see if they offer COVID-19 vaccinations. If you are a veteran, you can get vaccinated at a Department of Veterans Affairs facility.

Some vaccination sites ask for proof of identity or eligibility. You can bring a driver's license or other state-issued ID that shows your name, age, and residency, along with your health insurance card. You can also search for vaccination sites by zip code at Vaccines.gov.

Vaccine mandates for staff and customers

Arizona has not mandated COVID-19 vaccines for restaurant workers, but they are eligible to receive them. Restaurant workers must meet the definition of a frontline essential worker, which includes those who are "at highest risk for work-related exposure due to required work-related duties performed onsite, and that involve being in close proximity (less than 6 feet) to members of the public or coworkers."

While Arizona has not mandated vaccines for restaurant workers, some states have indicated that restaurant employees are eligible for vaccination as part of "Phase 1b." For example, in early February, New York announced that restaurant workers could begin being vaccinated. However, eligible New York restaurant workers have not necessarily been able to secure appointments. States may require employees to provide proof of their employment as a restaurant worker, and restaurants may be expected to provide a company letter confirming the employee's status.

Some restaurants are considering implementing vaccination policies for their staff. If restaurants choose to mandate vaccinations for employees, they should assess any obligations to pay employees for time spent receiving vaccinations. Restaurants may consider offering incentives, such as extra pay or additional paid time off in case of side effects. However, before withdrawing employment offers from applicants who are unable to be vaccinated due to a disability or religious belief, restaurants should consider whether a reasonable accommodation is possible and may need to defend the mandate as job-related and consistent with business necessity.

In terms of customer vaccine mandates, there is currently no federal law in the U.S. that prevents a private business from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination from customers. However, federal and state accommodation laws limit the circumstances under which a business can require proof of vaccination from patrons. For example, Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination in public accommodations and establishes that individuals shall not be discriminated against based on disability.

Additionally, Arizona has enacted legislation prohibiting the state, cities, towns, and counties from requiring any person to be vaccinated for COVID-19 or businesses to obtain proof of vaccination status from patrons.

Vaccine incentives for restaurant employees

In Arizona, restaurant workers are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine if they meet the definition of a frontline essential worker. Frontline essential workers are those who are "at highest risk for work-related exposure due to required work-related duties performed onsite, and that involve being in close proximity (less than 6 feet) to members of the public or coworkers." While Arizona does not require individuals to be vaccinated against COVID-19, many restaurant employees have questions about their eligibility and are looking to their employers for guidance.

As such, restaurants should consider implementing a vaccination policy and communicating it clearly to their employees. If restaurants decide to mandate vaccinations, they should also consider any obligations to pay employees for time spent receiving vaccinations. Some restaurants are offering incentives to employees who choose to be vaccinated, such as extra pay or additional paid time off in case of side effects. Other incentives could include gift cards or small perks. However, it is important for restaurants to carefully assess the legal and practical considerations of providing incentives, such as confidentiality, privacy, and wage and hour implications.

In addition to employee incentives, some states have implemented incentives for the general public to get vaccinated. For example, Delaware offered to reimburse bars, restaurants, and shops that provided discounts or freebies to vaccinated customers. Connecticut launched the #CTDrinksOnUs campaign, where participating restaurants offered free drinks to vaccinated patrons. These types of incentives not only encourage vaccination but also support local businesses.

Frequently asked questions