President Joe Biden, on Monday, demanded that U.S. companies should force all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 – following the FDA’s questionable approval of the Pfizer vaccine.
“Today I’m calling on more companies in the private sector to step up with vaccine requirements that will reach millions more people. If you’re a business leader, a nonprofit leader, a state or local leader, who has been waiting for full FDA approval to require vaccinations, I call on you now to do that,” Biden said.
“Require it. Do what I did last month. Require your employees to get vaccinated or face strict requirements.”
The Food and Drug Administration issued approval for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, making it the first vaccine to receive approval from the drug regulator.
While many across the globe still remain rightfully hesitant regarding the vaccine, FDA officials claim clinical trial data show that the vaccine is somewhat effective in preventing infection from the virus, as well as limiting the severity of the disease and the cases of hospitalization, when a breakthrough infection occurs.
Of course, the long term side effects of the rushed vaccine still remain unknown, and its effectiveness against the new “Delta” variant has been proven to be minimal at best.
Some companies, jurisdictions, and groups have been hesitating to mandate vaccines due to the fact that none of the Covid vaccines were approved by the FDA. Now, it’s likely there will be another wave of un-American vaccine mandates.
And it’s already begun.
Shortly after the FDA’s announcement, New York mandated vaccines for teachers and other educators, New Jersey imposed requirements for educators and state workers, and the Pentagon mandated the Pfizer vaccine for service members.
Dr. Anthony Fauci said earlier this month that he expected numerous mandates to be imposed once a vaccine received full FDA approval.
Biden issued new rules last month that require federal workers and contractors to get vaccinated or submit to regular COVID-19 testing.
“Vaccination requirements have been around for decades. Students, health care professionals, our troops are typically required to receive vaccinations to prevent everything from polio to smallpox, measles, mumps, rubella,” Biden said on Monday attempting to rationalize forcing a recently created and minimally tested vaccine on Americans.
“In fact, the reason most people in America don’t worry about polio, smallpox, measles, mumps, and rubella today is because of vaccines. It only makes sense to require a vaccine to stop the spread of COVID-19.”
White House press secretary Jen Psaki revealed to reporters that the Biden admin push to coerce businesses into requiring that their employees be vaccinated began weeks ago.
“You’ve seen a number of senior officials be more forward-leaning, I should say, about the role that private sector can play in mandating vaccines or taking steps with their own workforces,” she said.
“That is always going to be decisions for them to make. But some may assess, and some private sector companies have spoken out about, how final approval of the vaccine may help them take that additional step. So we are here, and we are here to be a resource as they have questions. But certainly, we’re hopeful this will help put in place additional measures around the country.”
Federal employees can only avoid getting a vaccine if they claim a medical or religious exemption and that claim is approved.
Asked if the president would mandate vaccines across the federal workforce, Psaki said she expected action to be left to individual agencies.
Some groups have vocally opposed vaccine mandates. The American Postal Workers Union was one of a number of unions to come out against a mandate.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and dozens of other House Reps. sponsored a bill in June to bar military members from being punished if they refuse COVID-19 vaccination. However, the bill is unlikely to pass the Democrat-controlled chamber.
Author: George Jones
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