Shortly after the FDA granted full approval yesterday to the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 shot for Americans 16 and older, President Joe Biden called on the private sector to “step up” and implement more vax mandates.

 

“We need to move faster,” Biden said. “If you’re a business leader, a nonprofit leader, a state or local leader who has been waiting for full FDA approval to require vaccinations, I call on you now to do that. Require it. Do what I did last month: require your employees to get vaccinated or face strict testing.”

 

Biden noted that Americans ranging from students to troops have lived with vaccine mandates for the good of public health “for decades.”

 

“The reason most Americans don’t worry about polio, measles, smallpox and rubella today is because of vaccines,” he added. “It only makes sense to require a vaccine to stop the spread of COVID-19.”

 

A recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that three of every 10 unvaccinated people said that they would be more likely to seek a shot with a fully approved vaccine.

 

 

Even as more employers, theaters and other businesses are requiring proof of vaccination, Attorney General Maura Healey says it's too soon to know whether a more formal vaccine passport system is necessary to prevent the use of forged vaccine cards, according to Matt Murphy at State House News.

 

"I want people to know if you run into an issue with fake vaccination cards report it to my office and we'll take action," Healey said on GBH's Boston Public Radio.

 

Healey said she did not believe it was too onerous to ask workers to show proof of their vaccination.

 

 

The Globe’s Sheryl Julian just posted a heartfelt farewell letter to Tony Russo, proprietor of Russo’s in Watertown.

 

Julian does a nice job highlighting some of the many products Russo’s carried (by necessity, she easily left out at least a hundred more) and a little of Russo’s history.

 

I especially like this portion about Tony’s commitment to customer service:

 

"Years ago, when we were chatting between the produce aisles – you always stopped to say hello to customers if you were on the floor – you told me that sometimes you came to work with a blinding headache because you lived on so little sleep.

 

"Yet, in all the years I’ve been shopping at your farm stand, I have only seen you very courteous and gracious to everyone. And I’ve noticed many fussy and grumpy customers. Bravo to you for how you handle them. Someone can be berating you for something they bought that wasn’t up to snuff, and Tony, quite frankly, you should give lessons to other customer service reps on how to offer a sincere apology. Even your own staff never learned to finesse that aspect of the business."

 

 

Next month the Department of Early Education and Care, in partnership with Commonwealth Corporation and the Business Coalition for Early Childhood (our chamber is member) will host a series of conversations examining child care in the new economy.

 

The free program is targeted to those who set company policies and oversee talent/human resources. Details.

 

 

 

Our condolences to the family and colleagues of Scott M. Bock, the founder and former CEO of Riverside Community Care, who died yesterday after a battle with cancer.

 

Block founded Riverside in 1982 when he was one of six people working in a church basement with a single day program for 30 adults with mental illness.

 

Riverside now operates nearly 100 programs across eastern and south-central Massachusetts, including residences for people with disabilities, emergency services, outpatient centers, and specialized child and family programs in our communities.

 

 

Newton’s new Police Chief John Carmichael has been issuing tickets when he catches kids doing the right things. Tickets can be redeemed for ice cream at Cabot’s Ice Cream or candy at Indulge!

 

If you’re a business owner and would like to participate in the Positive Ticket Program call 617 796-2103.