WASHINGTON (CN) — With the delta variant of Covid-19 driving a new surge in infections in the United States, President Joe Biden on Thursday announced a new rule for federal employees: Get vaccinated or face regular testing and other restrictions.
There are roughly 4 million federal employees in the U.S., according to the Office of Personnel Management. That makes the federal government the nation’s largest employer and getting this swath of Americans on board with inoculations could help take a bite out of the virus’ spread.
In remarks from the East Room of the White House on Thursday, Biden urged federal workers to get the shot.
“From the moment I was elected, I said I would give it to you always straight from the shoulder and we need straight talk right now because there’s a lot of fear and misinformation in our country. We need to cut through it with facts and science and the truth," he said.
New cases of Covid-19 were declining for months, but the U.S. is currently seeing a spike in cases because of the highly contagious delta variant.
“It’s highly transmissible and causing a new wave of cases among those who are not vaccinated. Experts tell me cases will go up further before they come back down, but while cases are on the rise we’re not likely to see a comparable rise in hospitalizations or deaths in most areas of the country. Why is that? Because 164 million Americans are fully vaccinated, including 80% of the most vulnerable, our seniors,” Biden said.
Some 325 million doses of vaccine have been administered in the last six months in the U.S., and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Tuesday issued new guidance saying even fully vaccinated Americans should wear face masks indoors in public if they live in a virus hotspot. The guidance applies to areas with a substantial increase in cases, defined by the CDC as 50 new cases for every 100,000 people per week.
While the news may be disheartening, the U.S. does have enough doses of vaccine in its national supply to inoculate those who haven't gotten the shot.
As for booster shots, they are currently unnecessary, according to the CDC, because they have yet to show a significant impact or effect in people under 65 with normal immune systems who are already vaccinated against Covid-19. That may be different for those over that age.
Amanda Cohn, chief medical officer for the CDC’s immunization division, told members of the agency’s vaccine advisory panel this week that public health officials are exploring whether a booster would benefit the immunocompromised over 65.
A decision has not yet been issued by public health agencies, though Pfizer has said efficacy from its vaccine drops slightly as time passes. That is to be expected in vaccines for most diseases.
“If you will need a booster shot, as of now, my medical advisers say the answer is no. No American needs a booster now but if the science tells us there is a need for boosters, then that is something we’ll do,” Biden said Thursday, emphasizing the U.S. pandemic response will go where the science takes it.
The White House has faced a raft of criticism about recent CDC policy change regarding masks. In Congress, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, has been particularly vocal, holding press conferences, posting tweets and delivering remarks on the House floor railing against the changes.
“It punishes Americans who’ve already done everything they were asked to do. They’re told if you’re vaccinated, you wouldn’t have to wear a mask,” McCarthy said at a press conference Thursday morning with a slew of Republican members flanking him on the Capitol steps
