Consistency and Vaccine Requirements

by Maria S. Salinas

This pandemic is not over and the health of our community is of paramount importance. The Chamber supports vaccination requirements that are sound and reasonable, leading to a restoration of healthy communities, which is why we are calling for statewide vaccination requirements. In Southern California, we easily traverse from one city or county to the next, and businesses operate in multiple locations, crossing city and county lines as part of our everyday living. Without alignment across local and state levels of government, inconsistent vaccination requirements will further complicate the compliance systems businesses and residents must adopt. 

The recent ordinance adopted by the City of Los Angeles to require proof of vaccination at select businesses will need clarity in its implementation and enforcement. Businesses, especially small businesses, have been working around the clock to survive multiple closures, navigate health orders, and now implement vaccine requirements. This can cause confusion and lead to instability, burdening the very businesses which we rely on to lift us out of the pandemic and into recovery. 

We need a statewide plan which provides consistency and clarity among California’s counties. Without statewide vaccination requirements, our local elected officials are tasked with creating their own COVID guidelines.   

The Chamber will continue to advocate for the alignment of vaccine requirements across all levels of government. Californians need a consistent application of public health requirements.