Chipotle Says Employees Will Not Be Required to Get Coronavirus Vaccine

With both Moderna and Pfizer gaining FDA emergency clearance this month for its coronavirus vaccines, there is hope that the U.S. may start seeing some semblance of normalcy in 2021.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that food service workers receive the vaccine in phase 1c.

Burrito restaurant chain Chipotle however has spoken up this month about their employees not being required to take the Covid-19 vaccine. The company will however “strongly encourage” employees to receive it said CEO Brian Niccol on Tuesday.

Niccol also said that the company would cover any costs associated with receiving the vaccine.

“As of right now, we’re not going to mandate it,” Niccol said on CNBC’s “Closing Bell.”
Other chains that won’t require their employees to get the vaccination include Cousins Subs, which cited concerns about infringing employees’ medical rights.

The CDC has recommended that foodservice workers are placed next in line to receive the inoculation during phase 1c of vaccine distribution. The workers are behind the elderly and essential workers, like mail carriers and bus drivers, who are currently being prioritized for vaccination.

As of Monday this week, there had been 614,117 doses of a Covid-19 vaccine administered, according to CDC data. Roughly 4.6 million doses have been distributed so far.

Disclaimer: We have no position in any of the companies mentioned and have not been compensated for this article.