WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is set to lift most federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates next week as the national public health emergency for the coronavirus comes to an end. Starting on May 11, vaccine requirements for federal workers, federal contractors, and foreign air travelers to the U.S. will be terminated. The process of lifting shot requirements for Head Start educators, healthcare workers, and noncitizens at U.S. land borders will also begin. These requirements were among the last remaining coercive measures taken by the federal government to promote vaccination. The move reflects the Biden administration’s approach to treat COVID-19 as a routine, endemic illness.
Speaking to The Associated Press, White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha said, While I believe that these vaccine mandates had a tremendous beneficial impact, we are now at a point where we think that it makes a lot of sense to pull these requirements down. The federal courts and Congress have already rolled back vaccine requirements for large employers and military servicemembers.
Although most federal mandates are ending, some agencies like the National Institutes of Health, Indian Health Service, and Department of Veterans Affairs will maintain their own requirements while they review their policies. These agencies had implemented their own mandates independently of the White House.
The decision to lift the mandates comes as COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. have significantly decreased. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the week ending April 26 saw the lowest weekly death toll from the virus since March 2020. Over 1.13 million people in the U.S. have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic began more than three years ago.
More than 270 million people in the U.S., or just over 81% of the population, have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the CDC. The Biden administration aims to shift towards a long-term approach to COVID-19 similar to influenza, with yearly updated shots targeting the latest strains of the virus, particularly for the most vulnerable populations.
While federal mandates are being lifted, there is a possibility that some employers, especially medical facilities, may choose to maintain their COVID-19 vaccination requirements. Dr. Jha cited the example of his hospital, which has had a flu vaccine requirement for employees for the past 20 years.
Addressing concerns about the ending of international traveler vaccination requirements, Dr. Jha stated that the U.S. has a robust traveler genomic surveillance program that can effectively identify and respond to new variants. He believes that the need for a vaccine mandate for travelers is currently less necessary.
As the Biden administration takes this step in easing COVID-19 vaccine requirements, it reflects a shift in strategy towards encouraging voluntary vaccinations rather than imposing mandates. The move underscores the administration’s confidence in the healthcare system and public health resources to respond effectively to the ongoing threat posed by the virus.
