Higher COVID-19 Vaccination And Narrower Disparities In US Cities With Paid Sick Leave Compared To Those Without

Which Curve Are We Flattening? The Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19 Among Economically Marginalized Communities in Ontario, Canada, Was Unchanged From Wild-Type to Omicron

“…Our findings should not be interpreted as though the public health measures, strategies, and interventions did not work, as evidence points to large, overall prevention in COVID-19 deaths [ 20 ]. Evaluation of temporary income support and eviction moratoria have been known to be associated with improved outcomes with respiratory viruses [ 21 ], with evidence of impact in the context of COVID-19 [ 22 , 23 ]. Access to and uptake of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines has had a large impact on mortality [ 7 , 24 ] and remains a critical equity-informed strategy by prioritizing and mobilizing to reach disproportionately higher coverage at the intersections of the highest exposure and severity risks [ 25 , 26 ].…”

Expanding Paid Sick Leave Laws: The Public Health Imperative

“…42 Paid sick leave also has resulted in higher Covid-19 vaccination rates and reduced disparities in vaccination coverage. 43 In a study of thirty-seven cities, those having a paid sick leave law had 17 percent higher Covid-19 vaccination rates than cities without such a policy, and the effect was most pronounced in the vaccination rates of socially vulnerable populations. Paid sick leave also narrows the gender gap in sick leave coverage for low-wage workers.…”

“…The main reason for opposing new paid sick leave legislation is the ostensible economic burden on employers, but the evidence does not support claims that the legislation will result in such a toll 49 . Employers that provide paid sick leave actually save money on health care costs because employees are less likely to be treated in expensive hospital EDs, 50 more likely to be vaccinated and therefore less likely to be absent from work 51 or infected at work, 52 and less likely to change jobs 53 . Elected officials and stakeholders considering proposals to enact new paid sick leave legislation should focus on the tremendously positive effects of these laws on public health.…”

Disparities in Access to Paid Sick Leave During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“… 32 During the H1N1 pandemic, not having access to paid sick leave was associated with a higher probability of having had influenza-like illnesses. 33 City level paid sick leave policies were associated with a higher uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, 34 suggesting a further pathway by which paid sick leave laws may be protective against COVID-19.…”