Arkansas Lawmakers Taking Steps on bill to Counter Employer Vaccine Requirements

According to an Associated Press (AP) article, Arkansas lawmakers have taken a step toward passing a bill that would give employees a choice regarding their employer’s vaccination requirement.

The report states that on Wednesday the state’s lawmakers “advanced legislation that would allow workers to opt out of their employer’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement if they’re tested weekly or can prove they have natural antibodies.” Additionally, the bill would come with a requirement on the state to pay unemployment benefits to “workers who are fired for not getting vaccinated.”

Health officials have said that those who recover from COVID-19 should still get vaccinated, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said antibodies tests should not be used for diagnosing COVID-19 or discovering immunity. More details are available online.