President Biden Announces COVID Vaccination Mandates
Today, President Joe Biden addressed the country to discuss his plan to get more Americans vaccinated. His plan, which is laid out at the White House’s official website, contains new vaccine rules for federal workers, large employers and health care staff.
“My job as president is to protect all Americans,” President Biden said. “So tonight, I’m announcing that the Department of Labor is developing an emergency rule to require all employers with 100 or more employees that together employ over 80 million workers to ensure their workforces are fully vaccinated or show a negative test at least once a week.” The President signed an executive order requiring all government employees be vaccinated against Covid-19, with no option of being regularly tested to opt-out of being vaccinated. The President also signed an order saying that the same will be true of contractors who do business with the federal government.
“We’ve been patient, but our patience is wearing thin,” Biden said, noting that Americans who have received vaccinations were growing “frustrated” with the 80 million people who have not.
President Biden pointed out that many private businesses are already asking their employees to show proof of vaccination. “Some of the biggest companies are already requiring this: United Airlines. Disney. Tyson’s Food. And even Fox News.”
He also said he will require that 300,000 educators in federal Head Start programs be vaccinated; he said that he will call on governors to require vaccinations for schoolteachers and staff. Additionally, he said he will require the 17 million health care workers at facilities receiving funds from Medicare and Medicaid to be fully vaccinated, expanding the mandate to hospitals, home care facilities and dialysis centers around the country.
“We have the tools to combat the virus if we come together to use those tools,” he said.
