Biden Administration Announces End to Federal COVID Vaccine Mandates

Biden Administration to End COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates

The Biden administration has announced that it will be ending several COVID-19 vaccine mandates, including the requirement for foreign travelers to provide proof of vaccination. This decision comes after a growing body of evidence that the vaccines only provide transient protection against symptomatic infection and hospitalization.

End of Mandates

• Noncitizen nonimmigrants arriving by air – May 12
• Federal workers and federal contractors – May 12
• Proof of vaccination required at U.S. land borders – May 12
• Head Start employees and health care facilities certified by federal regulators – future

Some mandates, such as those imposed by the National Institutes of Health, will remain in place for now. However, mandates for large private employers and members of the military have already been struck down or withdrawn.

The White House stated that the mandates “helped ensure the safety of workers in critical workforces including those in the healthcare and education sectors, protecting themselves and the populations they serve, and strengthening their ability to provide services without disruptions to operations.” However, critics argue that the mandates were always unethical and provided no additional benefit to those who were already vaccinated.

False Claims

President Biden and other officials have made false claims about the vaccines, stating that they prevent transmission, infection, and severe illness. However, this is not the case, and the vaccines only provide temporary protection against certain symptoms. As such, the decision to end vaccine mandates is a step towards acknowledging the limitations of the vaccines and allowing individuals to make their own informed decisions about their health.

Source: Commonwealth Fund