Biden announces federal workers must be vaccinated or face regular tests.
Source: New York Times
President Biden on Thursday announced that all civilian federal employees must be vaccinated against the coronavirus or be forced to submit to regular testing, social distancing, mask requirements and restrictions on most travel.
We all want our lives to get back to normal, and fully vaccinated workplaces will make that happen more quickly and more successfully, Mr. Biden said, speaking in the East Room. We all know that in our gut. With incentives and mandates, we can make a huge difference and save a lot of lives.
The federal government employs more than 4 million Americans, all of whom will need to attest to being fully vaccinated in order to avoid wearing a mask on the job, regardless of where in the country they work, and comply with screening tests once or twice a week.
The president also directed the Defense Department to study how and when to add the coronavirus vaccine to the list of required vaccinations for all members of the military. The announcement marked the first time he has suggested that a mandate could come for active-duty members of the military before any of the three federally authorized vaccines receives full approval from the Food and Drug Administration. And he called on states, territories and local governments to pay $100 to Americans who remain unvaccinated to get their shots.
Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/biden-announces-federal-workers-must-be-vaccinated-or-face-regular-tests/ar-AAMIvFA?li=BBnb7Kz
zuul
(14,624 posts)the ones that go so far up your nostril that the technician can touch your noodle. After one of those tests, the anti-vaxxers would beg for the shot.
rzemanfl
(29,557 posts)Why, pray tell, should the stupid get a reward? I think they should get a $100 fine they can have rescinded by getting vaccinated. It should double every day until they do.
OneCrazyDiamond
(2,031 posts)I bet this was planned long ago. They probably have other incentives planned, before the stick comes out. President Biden will get this done 1 way or another.
rzemanfl
(29,557 posts)I get to wear a mask again because these idiots won't get vaccinated. Time for the stick IMHO.
OneCrazyDiamond
(2,031 posts)We all get to wear a mask again because vaccinated people infected with delta have measurable viral loads similar to those who are unvaccinated and infected with the variant. The risk has risen. Fortunately the vaccine is effective at preventing hospitalization and death. Our President knows this, and I trust him when he encourages this for the unvaxed. I think it would be better if the already vaccinated got $200
Response to rzemanfl (Reply #2)
Chin music This message was self-deleted by its author.
Deminpenn
(15,286 posts)Doubt many fed civil servants will object. It will be interesting to see how this works at agencies that have both civilian employees and active military like the Pentagon, for example, or any DoD activity. Departments, etc, usually have a military in charge with a civilian deputy. My activity was over 90% civilian where the military did the bulk of travelling.
Pas-de-Calais
(9,904 posts)Fully vaccinated 04/30
There be plenty of feds who will crab, bitch, moan about this.
Same ones who disliked #44. Heard way too many do this back in the day
Believe #46 has informed the contractors something similar
Deminpenn
(15,286 posts)but in the federal civil service management holds all the cards. The unions can object, but in my time I saw management do an excellent job of divide and conquer with the bargaining unit members. Most of the bargaining unit employees in my activity felt the union just served to protect those who were lazy, didn't, couldn't or wouldn't do their jobs and deserved to be fired.
There won't be any escaping the consequences of being or remaining unvaccinated in federal offices or buildings.
The federal contractors will comply because they won't risk losing their contracts.
LetMyPeopleVote
(145,168 posts)LiberalLovinLug
(14,173 posts)I don't care if the GOP try to frame it like that either. I think the public overall will side with common sense, over partisan political conspiracy theories.
OMG the gob'mint is forcing federal workers to stay alive!!!
MichMan
(11,915 posts)Why is the federal government just adding this now ?
Isn't that what the CDC and OSHA recommended months ago when the mask mandate for everyone was lifted? That going maskless was OK if and only if you were vaccinated. That is how every place I have entered since then states on the entrances.
Sounds like unvaccinated federal employees were allowed to go maskless anyway in violation of the CDC and OSHA requirements.
Deminpenn
(15,286 posts)but don't know that for a fact.
Tarc
(10,476 posts)Trying to remove unvaccinated federal employees from their positions would have been a protracted, pitched battle.
This simply places extra safeguards on the unvaccinated, arguably for their own protection. They won't have a legal leg to stand on in objection.
greymattermom
(5,754 posts)Federal workers?
djm5971
(109 posts)It's not about freedom, it's about life and death.