As many as 100 million Americans could be covered.
On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced new vaccine mandates for federal workers, large employers, and health care staff with the goal of containing the latest surge of COVID-19. The new requirements could apply to as many as 100 million Americans and amount to the president’s strongest effort yet to require coronavirus inoculations for much of the nation.
“We need to do more. This is not about freedom or personal choice. It’s about protecting yourself and those around you,“ the president stated. The new steps would not provide a quick fix, he acknowledged. “While America is in much better shape than it was seven months ago when I took office, I need to tell you a second fact. We’re in a tough stretch and it could last for a while,” he added.
He has directed the Labor Department to require all businesses with 100 or more employees to ensure their workers are either vaccinated or tested once a week. Companies could face thousands of dollars in fines per employee if they don’t comply. He also signed an executive order requiring all government employees to be vaccinated, with no option of being regularly tested to opt-out. He signed an accompanying order directing the same standard to be applied to employees of contractors who do business with the federal government.
In addition, 300,000 educators in federal Head Start programs must be vaccinated, and he called on governors to require vaccinations for school teachers and staff. He also announced he would require the 17 million health care workers at facilities that receive funds from Medicare and Medicaid to be fully vaccinated, expanding the mandate to hospitals, home care facilities, and dialysis centers around the country.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the Labor Department as they begin enforcement of the mandate for vaccinating employees of private companies.
- For health care workers, school teachers, and others who are being required to be inoculated.
- For Americans who have a variety of reasons not to receive the vaccine against COVID-19.
- For the coronavirus to continue to weaken and wane.
Sources: CNN, One America News
