The Biden administration's COVID-19 vaccine mandate in the U.S. is on hold because of legal challenges, but employers can still require the shots
By By TOM KRISHER Associated Press
December 2, 2021, 5:41 AM
• 2 min read
Share to FacebookShare to TwitterEmail this articleWhat’s the status of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate in the U.S.?
It's on hold indefinitely because of legal challenges, but employers can still require the shots.
To control the spread of COVID-19, President Joe Biden previously said businesses with 100 or more employees would need to require COVID-19 vaccination or have workers get tested weekly for the virus. The rule was to take effect Jan. 4, affecting about 84 million workers nationwide.
But soon after the rule was issued by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, it faced multiple legal challenges from businesses, conservative groups and Republican attorneys general that said the agency doesn't have the authority to mandate vaccines.
On Nov. 6, a federal appeals court in New Orleans put the rule on hold, saying it was “a one-size fits-all sledgehammer" that was too broad. Ten days later, all challenges to the requirement were consolidated in another appeals court in Cincinnati.
In a court filing, lawyers for the Biden administration said the mandate was needed to reduce transmission of the virus in workplaces. It asked that it be allowed to move ahead with the rule.
The requirement for employers is among several challenges to Biden administration vaccine rules. Two other mandates, one for healthcare workers and one for federal contractors, are also being contested.
——————
The AP is answering your questions about the coronavirus in this series. Submit them at: FactCheck@AP.org. Read more here:
Is travel safe during the pandemic this holiday season?
Why can’t some COVID-19 vaccinated people travel to the US?
Can at-home COVID-19 tests make holiday gatherings safer?
