In a speech this afternoon, President Joe Biden announced a broad-reaching plan intended to greatly expand the number of Americans who are vaccinated against coronavirus, including all federal employees, and contractors who work for the federal government—with no option for weekly testing instead. An Executive Order was issued today mandating vaccinations for all federal employees and contractors. The announced measures also mandate that employees working in private companies with more than 100 workers must either get vaccinated or face weekly testing. Once the policy is in place, businesses that ignore the mandate could pay up to $14,000 per violation. Most health-care facilities that accept Medicare or Medicaid funding will also be required to vaccinate their employees. Staffers at federally-funded Head Start programs, along with Defense Department schools and federally-operated schools for Native Americans are also being ordered to get vaccinated.
Biden adopted a fairly harsh tone for those 80 million Americans who haven’t been vaccinated. “We’ve been patient,” he said, “but our patience is wearing thin. And your refusal has cost all of us.” He described the current situation as a “tough stretch, and it could last for a while. What makes it incredibly more frustrating is we have the tools to combat Covid-19, and a distinct minority of Americans, supported by a distinct minority of elected officials, are keeping us from turning the corner.”
In terms of educational facilities, Biden called on governors to require vaccinations for all teachers and school staff. Biden also offered financial assistance to those school districts that have defied their states’ no-mask mandates, and are being punished financially as a result.
