U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the Delta variant and his administration's efforts to increase vaccinations, from the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., September 9, 2021. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Ben Burke Producer

Politics

Biden announces vaccine requirements affecting federal workers, large businesses

Sep 09, 2021

Ben Burke Producer

By Ben Burke (Producer)

President Joe Biden announced tighter COVID-19 vaccine requirements for federal workers Thursday. The video above shows clips from Biden’s announcement

In July, President Biden required federal workers to either get the vaccine or be subjected to regular testing and masking protocols. Thursday afternoon, Biden signed a new executive order requiring vaccination for employees of the executive branch, as well as contractors who do business with the federal government. According to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, under the executive order there would be no option to test out.

Federal workers and contractors will have 75 days to get fully vaccinated. Those who don’t comply will be referred to their agency’s human resources department for counseling and discipline. This does include possible termination.

Biden’s order does allow workers or contractors to seek religious or medical exemptions.

In addition, Biden was expected to require all workers at health facilities that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid be fully vaccinated. He also was set to mandate all employers with more than 100 workers to require those worker be vaccinated or test for the virus weekly. The former would affect 17 million Americans, and the latter would affect 80 million.

“”The bottom line: We’re going to protect vaccinated workers from unvaccinated coworkers,” Biden said. “We’re going to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by increasing the share of the workforce that is vaccinated and businesses all across America.”

The order is just part of a six-pronged Biden Administration plan to address the latest rise in coronavirus cases, as well as the stagnating pace of vaccinations. Psaki said Biden’s “overarching objective here is to reduce the number of unvaccinated Americans,” noting about 80 million adults remain unvaccinated.

Other measures in Biden’s plan include an increase in virus testing in schools in order to keep them open safely.

More than 208 million Americans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 177 million are fully vaccinated. However, confirmed cases of the virus have shot up in recent weeks to an average of about 140,000 per day. About 1,000 Americans are dying from the virus daily, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We’re in the tough stretch and it could last for a while,” Biden said. “Highly contagious Delta variant that I began to warn America about back in July, spread late summer like it did in other countries before us.”

Tags: Joe Biden, Pandemic

Joe Biden, U.S. President: “The bottom line: We’re going to protect vaccinated workers from unvaccinated coworkers. We’re going to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by increasing the share of the workforce that is vaccinated and businesses all across America.”

“I will sign an executive order that will now require all executive branch federal employees to be vaccinated, all. And I’ve signed another executive order that will require federal contractors to do the same. If you want to work with the federal government and do business with us, get vaccinated. If you want to do business with the federal government, vaccinate your workforce. And tonight, I’m removing one of the last remaining obstacles that make it difficult for you to get vaccinated. The Department of Labor will require employers with 100 or more workers to give those workers paid time off to get vaccinated. No one should lose pay in order to get vaccinated or take a loved one to get vaccinated. Today, in total, the vaccine requirements in my plan will affect about 100 million Americans, two thirds of all workers.”

“My message to unvaccinated Americans is this: What more is there to wait for? What more do you need to see? We’ve made vaccinations free, safe and convenient. The vaccine is (received) FDA approval. Over 200 million Americans have gotten at least one shot. We’ve been patient but our patience is wearing thin. And your refusal has cost all of us.”

“For the vast majority of you who’ve gotten vaccinated, I understand your anger at those who haven’t gotten vaccinated. I understand the anxiety about getting a breakthrough case. But as the science makes clear, if you’re fully vaccinated, you’re highly protected from severe illness, even if you get COVID-19. In fact, recent data indicates there’s only one confirmed positive case per 5000 fully vaccinated Americans per day. You’re as safe as possible and we’re doing everything we can to keep it that way. Keep it that way. Keep you safe.”

“We remain at a critical moment, a critical time. We have the tools. Now, we just have to finish the job with truth, with science, with confidence, and together as one nation. Look, we’re the United States of America. There’s nothing, not a single thing we’re unable to do if we do it together. So let’s stay together. God bless you all and all those who continue to serve on the front lines of this pandemic and may God protect our troops. Get vaccinated.”