The U.S. is ending its COVID-19 vaccination requirements. The White House disclosed that the Biden administration intends to terminate COVID vaccination mandates for federal employees and international air travelers on May 11.
This decision coincides with the announcement that the administration would end the public health emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After roughly three years since the pandemic began, the U.S. and many countries worldwide have enforced vaccination requirements for millions of people against the constantly evolving coronavirus. These mandates will end for federal employees, contractors, Head Start employees, and healthcare workers in multiple hospitals on May 11.
Ending COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements
The White House announced today that on May 11, the COVID-19 vaccine requirement would come to an end, coinciding with the termination of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The vaccination requirements imposed by the Biden administration have contributed to the safety of workers in essential sectors, including healthcare and education, safeguarding both themselves and the communities they serve and enhancing their ability to function without operational disruptions.
The federal government has successfully enforced vaccination requirements for its employees, with a 98% compliance rate achieved through employees having received at least one vaccine dose or having filed a pending or approved exception or extension request by January 2022.
The vaccine requirements have resulted in increased vaccination rates across the nation, and the broader vaccination campaign has saved numerous lives.
Although vaccination remains an essential tool in promoting employee health and safety and ensuring workplace efficiency, the current phase of the response to the pandemic no longer necessitates such measures.
Dr. Paul G. Auwaerter, the clinical director in the infectious diseases division at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, stated that individuals have begun to assess their own risk and need for immunization, as The New York Times reported.
Dr. Auwaerter added that while the vaccines remain effective in reducing hospitalization and mortality rates, they are no longer as effective in preventing virus transmission.
Therefore, the decision to be vaccinated will once again largely depend on the patient and their doctor rather than the government. The White House added that additional details on ending these requirements will be provided in the coming days.
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Lowest COVID-19 Death Toll
In addition, other COVID-19-related requirements are being rescinded by the administration. Republicans have heavily criticized Biden's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in regards to vaccination and mask mandates.
Last month, Biden signed a Republican-sponsored resolution that terminated the national emergency for the coronavirus, which was first announced in March 2020, a month before the administration had planned.
Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House COVID-19 coordinator, said that while COVID-19 remains a concern, the healthcare system and public health resources are now better equipped to respond to the threat of the virus without disrupting Americans' access to care, according to Fortune.
Jha commented that certain emergency powers are no longer deemed necessary in the same manner as before.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 1.13 million people in the United States have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic began over three years ago.
As of April 26, a total of 1,052 people had succumbed to the virus, representing the lowest weekly death toll since March 2020.
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