The president has directed the administration to apply similar standards to federal contractors. Employers pushing for immunizations of employees can speed up the return to "normal"."Completely vaccinated workplaces can make that happen faster and more successfully," Biden stated in a speech at the White House East Room. We all know this in our gut.The White House stated that the Administration would encourage private sector employers to adopt this model in a factsheet about the announcement.Biden also directed the Pentagon to examine how and when Covid vaccination might be added to the list for military immunizations.This highly anticipated order may give federal agencies the power to ask for proof of vaccination from workers, particularly those working in health care or who interact regularly with Americans in person. This is one of the most aggressive White House actions to encourage Covid-19 shots. However, the directive's language does not include such a mandate. It is an honor system that means bosses could have to take their employees' word depending on their work location.Unvaccinated individuals will need to be tested "weekly" or twice weekly. However, it's not clear if screenings are provided at federal workplaces.The American Federation of Government Employees is the largest union representing federal workers. Its leader, the American Federation of Government Employees said that he expects to negotiate any Covid-related changes in working conditions with its members before they are implemented."Based on today's announcement, we understand that the vast majority federal employees wouldn't have to be vaccinated under President Bidens proposal, but that those who do not choose to receive the vaccine could face some restrictions," stated National President Everett Kelley. He also encouraged members to get vaccinated if possible.Biden also asked for state, territorial, and local governments to provide $100 to everyone who receives a shot. Anecdotal evidence and polling show that some Americans have been motivated by cash incentives to get vaccinated.The President announced that small and medium-sized companies will be reimbursed for providing paid leave to their employees in order to get their children, as well as their families, vaccinated. The President announced in April that the American Rescue Plan would fully reimburse any small or medium-sized company that offers paid leave to its employees to get their vaccines.The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that half of American workers had access to paid vacation time for vaccinations. 75% of those workers who received paid time off from their employers reported having been vaccinated. The President will also urge employers to offer paid time off for vaccinations to their employees.Biden's latest effort to encourage vaccination comes just days after the CDC reversed its course and recommended that all Americans, regardless of Covid vaccination status, wear masks indoors if they reside in areas with high or substantial infection rates. The agency stated that vaccinated Americans don't need to wear masks outside or indoors anymore.However, senior White House officials and CDC officials met this weekend to discuss new data. Director Rochelle Walensky stated that vaccinated individuals who have developed breakthrough infections with the Delta virus have a similar viral load to those who aren’t. This means that vaccinated persons may spread the virus to others.The data have not been made public by the CDC, leading to condemnation from conservatives and confusion from some public health professionals.Vaccine mandates won't build trust in vaccines and the CDCs mask mandate based upon secret, unpublished and questionable data will not either," stated Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodriguez, the top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. All these actions will only lead to a dangerous level in resentment towards a government acting like an authoritarian dictatorship, gaining more control over our lives and making decisions about health care. To boost vaccine confidence, the most important thing is to encourage people to speak to their doctors.Biden urged Americans not vaccinated to make their rounds, pointing out prominent Republicans such as Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell or even Fox commentators that "have been belittling" us for a while and who recently encouraged the shot to skeptical conservatives.Although people often talk about freedom, I have learned that freedom comes with responsibility." Biden stated. "The decision not to get vaccinated can have a negative impact on someone else.
