Hawaii employers are allowed to mandate vaccinations but are hesitant to do so
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A legal ruling in Texas is opening the door to mandatory vaccinations in Hawaii, according to Hawaii’s attorney general.
A federal judge allowed a Houston hospital to fire workers who refused to be vaccinated. The attorney general said that means the state can also require employees to get the shots.
Guidance from the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said employers generally have the legal right to make a requirement with certain exemptions.
The Hawaii Nurses Association said some hospitals are ordering certain nurses to disclose their vaccine status. The union said if hospitals mandate the vaccine, there wouldn’t be legal grounds to stop them.
Hawaii Pacific Health said they have yet to make a requirement for the vaccine.
“We believe more information is needed before any decision is made about it being a requirement for staff,” said HPH spokesperson, Kristen Bonilla, in an email. “Although we do not require our employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine, we are proud that 84% of Hawaii Pacific Health employees are vaccinated.”