Biden announces vaccine mandate for 100 million Americans

The Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was officially approved by the FDA on Aug. 23, 2021. Photo by WikiMedia

On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced a six-pronged plan to combat the latest surge in COVID-19 cases caused by the Delta variant, including new requirements for businesses to mandate vaccinations.

The main component of the mandate requires employers with more than 100 workers to require their employees to either be vaccinated or comply with weekly testing. These new requirements apply to roughly 80 million Americans across the private sector.

President Joe Biden criticized GOP politicians’ “cavalier” attitude toward the pandemic and the COVID-19 vaccine, suggesting that it has prolonged the pandemic. Photo by Seton Hall University

President Biden also announced a vaccine mandate for workers at health facilities who receive federal funding and any federal workers employed through the executive branch. Health facility workers will be given the same opportunity to undergo weekly testing — federal employees will not. These requirements will affect approximately 17 million Americans.

At his Thursday White House press briefing, Biden criticized the unvaccinated, seemingly blaming them for the recent rise in cases.

“We’ve been patient,” Biden said.“But our patience is wearing thin, and your refusal has cost all of us.”

Members of the GOP have expressed their outrage over the mandate, including Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN), who spoke out on Twitter Thursday evening.

Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN) is the only Republican to win re-election in Minnesota’s 8th district in over 70 years. Photo via Twitter, @RepPeteStauber

“I strongly oppose Biden’s tyrannical vaccine mandate on the American people and believe it is a complete abuse of power, and potentially unconstitutional,” Stauber said. “Medical decisions aren personal, to be made between an individual and their doctor. Joe Biden along with his unelected army of federal bureaucrats have absolutely no right to trample over workers’ rights, medical freedom and individual liberty.”

Though the controversy of the new vaccine mandate was the announcement’s largest takeaway for some, it is but one of the six points that Biden laid out in the country’s new pandemic plan.

The remaining points of Biden’s six-step plan he unveiled Thursday include booster shots for the vaccinated as soon as Sept. 20, plans to support various teachers and keep schools open, significantly increased testing capability via the Defense Production Act, an economic recovery package for business impacted by the pandemic and better treatment for COVID-19 patients. Biden stated that the improved care will be through greater availability of new medicinal treatments.

Joshua Bolten, head of the Business Roundtable, stated his organization’s strong support for the new vaccine mandate.

"Business Roundtable welcomes the Biden Administration's continued vigilance in the fight against Covid," Bolten said. "America's business leaders know how critical vaccination and testing are in defeating the pandemic.”

Health care representatives will meet on Sept. 17 to make final decisions regarding booster shots and the groups of people in need of them.