Vaccination Requirement for Federal Employees, Contractors, Certain Travelers to be Rescinded
The Biden Administration is ending COVID-19 vaccination requirements for federal employees, federal contractors, and international air travelers, effective at the end of day on May 11, 2023. That’s the same day the COVID -19 public health emergency ends.
Also, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are starting the process of ending vaccination requirements for Head Start educators, CMS-certified healthcare facilities, and certain land travelers who cross into the U.S.
In a statement, the Biden Administration says “While vaccination remains one of the most important tools in advancing the health and safety of employees and promoting the efficiency of workplaces, we are now in a different phase of our response when these measures are no longer necessary.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1,052 people died of COVID -19 in the week ending April 26. That’s the lowest weekly U.S. death toll from the virus since March 2020, when the pandemic began.
In the coming days, the White House says President Biden will issue an executive order formally rescinding the vaccination requirement.
Federal workers complied with the mandate at very high rate. The administration says 98 percent of individuals were in compliance as of January 2022.
Vaccine mandates will remain for many employees at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Indian Health Service, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Those agencies implemented their own requirements independent of the White House and they’ll undertake take their own review to see if it’s feasible to lift the mandate.
Restrictions Removed at U.S.-Canada Border
The move to end the vaccine mandate was welcomed by congressmembers who represent areas along the U.S.-Canadian border, which will see those restrictions lifted and Canadians once again allowed to travel freely into the U.S. without having to show proof of vaccination.
“With the COVID national emergency finally ending and this vaccine mandate lifted, communities throughout Upstate New York and the North Country can return to the freedom of uninterrupted travel across our Northern Border,” said Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY).
“While long overdue, this last lifting of pandemic restrictions is certainly welcome news and critically important as we seek opportunities to encourage a robust cross-border exchange that delivers shared prosperity,” said Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY).