When researching the approval or distaste for the new federal vaccine mandate, you can imagine that there are very loud and passionate comments on the matter. Many Covenant students have shared that their parents or themselves are going to have to leave a job they love or need because they are not vaccinated.
That being said, there is so much going on in the world of medicine, especially including the quick new development of the Covid-19 vaccine. About 56.4% of the country has been vaccinated, but with the new Delta Variant, Biden set a mandate for federal workers (which make up 100 million Americans) to be fully vaccinated by November 22nd or find another job, said Sabrina Maggiore of News Channel 9 ABC. The goal he had in mind to curb this new variant did receive quite a bit of backlash from employees and people with strong opinions or convictions against the vaccine.
While they may support people getting the vaccine, many Chattanooga employers voiced their distaste for mandating a health guideline. This was the view held by places like U.S. Xpress, Inc., and the Hamilton County Schools.
“Our understanding is that President Biden’s Executive Order regarding COVID-19 vaccination will be implemented through OSHA. OSHA does not have jurisdiction over local government entities such as Hamilton County Schools. In addition, Tennessee law prohibits local governments from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations,”Hamilton County Schools said according to WRCB tv.
Lots of federal employers are concerned for people’s health, but they heard administration officials say that the emphasis is not requiring workers to “receive the vaccine but aim to make life more difficult for those who are unvaccinated to encourage them to comply,” AP news said.
Lawrence Gostin of global health law at Georgetown University Law School said,
“People would much rather roll up their sleeves and get a jab, than undergo weekly testing and universal masking. In many ways, this is really not a mandate, it’s giving workers a choice,” Lawrence Gostin of global health law at Georgetown University Law School said.
These ideas would raise some concerns because if they do not receive the vaccine, they are to suffer in some way.
In Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley area, people reacted negatively to the fact that failure to comply with this mandate “could lead to a $14,000 fine per violation,” WRCB tv said. AP news said that at least 6 states have approved bills that “prohibit employers from requiring vaccination as a condition of employment.” There are now more states that have passed these types of bills and some that haven’t quite been passed yet.
Larry Cosme, the President of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association said “while the organization supports the vaccine it opposes compelling it,” Cosme said. “Forcing people to undertake a medical procedure is not the American way and is a clear civil right violation no matter how proponents may seek to justify it.”
There has been a consistent debate between the two sides on this matter, whether they should strive for freedom, or the health of the nation. At least that is how the two sides have been categorized. The nation may lose many employees in the workforce due to a decision like this considering the responses right here in Chattanooga. It will be interesting to see how the nation responds as a whole and whether it is fruitful or not.