Latest Presidential Vaccine Mandates

On September 9th, President Biden revealed a series of steps to fight the increasing cases of hospitalizations and deaths caused by the delta variant of the coronavirus.

The latest mandate, which is part of a six-pronged strategy, will be issued by the Department of Labor’s Occupancy Safety and Health Administration and aims for businesses with 100 or more employees to ensure that every worker is either vaccinated or submitted to weekly testing for COVID-19.

President Biden also requires that businesses with over 100 employees give their workers paid time off to get themselves and their families vaccinated.

The six-pronged strategy, according to The White House website, employs science-based approach used to successfully combat previous COVID-19 variants earlier this year, and they include:

1.       Vaccinating the unvaccinated

2.       Further protecting the vaccinated

3.       Keeping schools safely open

4.       Increasing testing and requiring masking

5.       Protecting our economic recovery

6.       Improving care for those with COVID-19

In addition to private business and companies with over 100 workers, President Biden also announced that federal workers and contractors, health care workers (in all health care setting), teachers and staff will be required to be vaccinated for COVID-19, except for those with religious or medical reasons.

Other efforts in combating the delta variant of the coronavirus include universal indoor masking in schools, as well as maintaining physical distancing, improving ventilation, performing regular screening testing, and encouraging vaccination for all staff and students 12 years and older.

Lastly, the Transportation Security Administration would now double fines for travelers who refuse to use masks, since public altercations have recently increased over mask mandates.

In his message to unvaccinated adults in America, President Biden said, “Many of us are frustrated with the nearly 80 million Americans who are still not vaccinated… What more is there to wait for? What more do you need to see? We've made vaccinations free, safe and convenient," Biden said. "We've been patient, but our patience is wearing thin. And your refusal has cost all of us. So please do the right thing."

Sources: https://www.whitehouse.gov/covidplan/

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