Mandatory Covid-19 Booster Shots for Apple's Retail and Corporate Employees to Be Implemented

Mandatory Covid-19 Booster Shots for Apple Retail and Corporate Staff

In the ongoing battle against the pandemic, several major tech companies are taking steps to encourage their employees to get COVID-19 booster shots.

According to reports, Apple will require its retail and corporate employees to get a booster shot once they are eligible. This requirement is set to take effect on a date yet to be confirmed, but employees will have four weeks to comply. Apple stated in an internal email that a booster shot is now part of staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccination to protect against severe disease.

Similarly, Amazon is offering financial incentives for its employees to get a booster shot. The tech giant is offering its hourly workers, including 750,000 U.S. warehouse workers, $40 and an extra day off to get a booster shot. However, Amazon has not confirmed whether it plans to make booster shots mandatory for all employees. Gizmodo reached out to Amazon to confirm this information but has not received a response yet.

Google, another tech giant, is requiring its employees and contractors to have a negative COVID-19 molecular test to access its offices or facilities. As of Sunday, the company has not responded to a request for confirmation about requiring COVID-19 booster shots for its employees.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is requiring its employees to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination for booster shots to access its offices, effective March 28. Workers who have not provided proof of vaccination will also have to abide by this testing policy. The memo also contains information for unvaccinated employees, who will be required to provide a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test before entering the workplace beginning on Jan. 24.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that individuals who received Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines can get a booster five months after their first two shots, while those who received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson shot are eligible to get boosted two months after vaccination.

It's important to note that as of the time of publication, major companies such as Apple, Google, and Amazon have not announced any universal, mandatory COVID-19 booster vaccination requirements for employees who qualify. Most large US tech companies recommended vaccinations strongly but left decisions to individuals. While Google and Microsoft previously required vaccines for office returns during the pandemic, these policies were largely lifted or relaxed as mandates faded.

No confirmation has been received from Apple, Google, or Meta regarding the reports about their COVID-19 booster shot requirements or incentives as of the time of publication. Gizmodo reached out to these companies for confirmation but did not hear back by the time of publication.

As the pandemic continues, it's clear that companies are taking measures to protect their employees and ensure a safe work environment. The decision to get a booster shot remains a personal one, but these incentives and requirements could play a role in encouraging more individuals to get vaccinated.