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White House considering COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal workers
The White House is strongly considering requiring federal employees to show proof they have been vaccinated against the coronavirus or otherwise submit to regular testing and wear a mask a potentially major shift in policy. (Photo: AP)
28 Jul 2021 09:12AM Share this content
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WASHINGTON: The White House is strongly considering requiring federal employees to show proof they have been vaccinated against the coronavirus or otherwise submit to regular testing and wear a mask a potentially major shift in policy that reflects growing concerns about the spread of the more infectious delta variant.
From Staff and Wire Reports
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WASHINGTON The Department of Veterans Affairs on Monday became the first major federal agency to require health care workers to get COVID-19 vaccines, as the aggressive delta variant spreads across the nation and some communities report troubling increases in hospitalizations among unvaccinated people.
At Overton Brooks, those Health Care Personnel appointed to positions labeled as Title 38 must be fully vaccinated within eight weeks of the publication of VHA Directive 1193 or within eight weeks of beginning employment. Only medical and religious exemptions are permitted and those in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from Federal service.
Biden Says Requiring Vaccination for All Federal Workers Is ‘Under Consideration Biden s comments come after the Department of Veterans Affairs became the first federal agency requiring healthcare workers to receive the vaccine By Mae Anderson, Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and The Associated Press •
Published July 27, 2021 •
Updated on July 27, 2021 at 2:13 pm
NBCUniversal Media, LLC
President Joe Biden says that requiring all federal workers to get vaccinated against the coronavirus is “under consideration,” as the more infectious Delta variant surges across the United States and a significant chunk of Americans still refuse the shot.
Speaking Tuesday after delivering remarks at the office of the Director of National Intelligence, Biden affirmed that his administration was considering the possibility in response to a reporter’s question.
CDC Says Some Vaccinated Americans Should Wear Masks Indoors Again
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Tuesday that fully vaccinated Americans in parts of the country with substantial or high transmission of COVID-19 should return to wearing masks indoors, citing new data on the highly contagious Delta variant.
The CDC also said masks should be required of everyone inside K-12 schools while urging classrooms to return to full-time, in-person classes with proper prevention strategies in place.
The new guidance comes as a growing number of local and state health officials have already returned to mandating masks indoors, with cases of the virus surging among unvaccinated Americans. Some 63% of U.S. counties currently have a high or substantial spread of the virus, according to the CDC.
That said, employment lawyers believe many businesses will want to meet hesitant workers half-way.
CAN EMPLOYERS REQUIRE A CORONAVIRUS VACCINE?
Yes. Private companies and government agencies can require their employees to get vaccinated as a condition of working there. Individuals retain the right to refuse, but they have no ironclad right to legal protection.
“Those who have a disability or a sincerely held religious belief may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under civil rights laws, so long as providing that accommodation does not constitute an undue hardship for the employer,” said Sharon Perley Masling, an employment lawyer who leads the COVID-19 task force at Morgan Lewis.