A community-wide outbreak of mumps has hit metro Phoenix — the first the Valley has seen in decades.
This contagious disease can be avoided with the MMR vaccine, which covers measles, mumps and rubella, but some parents are skipping this vaccine for their 18-month-old infants for fear of triggering autism.
But it's not widely known that many employers can require workers to be vaccinated, said John Balitis, chairman of the labor and employment department at Jennings, Strouss & Salmon PLC law firm in Phoenix.
"In fact, an argument can be made that some employers — hospitals, for example — may be liable for the repercussions if they don't impose such a requirement," Balitis said.
