As the country battles yet another wave of COVID-19 brought on by the Delta variant, and with the ever-present danger of another mutation possibly cropping up that is even worse, the time to end the pandemic is now. President Joe Biden has been considering a vaccine mandate for workers. The mandate would enact a requirement for employees of all companies with over 100 workers to either vaccinate against COVID-19 or get tested weekly. This mandate would affect over 80 million Americans.
In seeking advice on how to make a workable solution to the possible mandate, President Biden has sought the input of CEOs of major companies that have enacted their own mandates. Disney CEO Bob Chapek is one such executive invited to the conclave, according to Variety. Disney announced its vaccine mandate in July for all non-union and salaried workers, and then extended it to all Union workers in August.
President Biden will be meeting with the CEOs today at 1:30 p.m. ET. In addition to Chapek, other executives invited to the discussion with Biden include Greg Adams, Chair and CEO of Kaiser Permanente; Brad Smith, President of Microsoft; Madeline Bell, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Josh Bolten, President and CEO of Business Roundtable; Roz Brewer, CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance; Tim Boyle, President and CEO of Columbia Sportswear; Molly Moon Neitzel, Founder and CEO of Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream; and William Tate IV, President of Louisiana State University.
Vaccine mandates are no new territory for America, nor is the pushback from the public, as the current mandate is receiving. General George Washington ordered variolation (not a vaccine, but an early form of preventive treatment before the development of germ theory) for his troops to protect against smallpox in 1777. With the development of a formal smallpox vaccine many years later, it was suggested that a vaccine mandate be instated to quash the virus, and protests ensued. Responding to these protests, the Supreme Court ruled in 1905 that a vaccine mandate is constitutional, and it was upheld again in 1914 in a separate case on “general welfare” of the public over individual choice.
By 1952, smallpox had been eradicated in the US and by 1979, it had been eradicated from the world, according to the CDC.
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Require vax at parks. If people are afraid to get vaxxed they can stay home.
What’s the matter? Afraid your vax doesn’t work? Hint: It doesn’t.
The smallpox vaccine prevented smallpox. At this point we have enough data to show the covid vaccine does not prevent covid. End of story. We are really comparing this to mandates in the 17th century btw? It was also common practice to treat illnesses by draining blood.
Clearly, you’re no MD. Where is the data that shows that the Covid vaccine doesn’t prevent Covid? Please don’t cite breakthrough cases, or you’ll be laughed out of the room.
If you can’t get the states to do it. Get the businesses in those states to do it in their place.
Businesses that are smart will not enforce vax mandates. They should be afraid of wrongful termination lawsuits.
Not in the “employment at will” states. You can be fired for anything.
Oh this ought to be good. Two “geniuses” left to their own devices. What could go wrong?
I’m sure Chapek will suggest something that utilizes projection screens.
If it only affects 80M of Americans, most of which are already vaccinated, the vaccine mandate isn’t going to make that much of a difference, just a slight improvement, like reduce covid count by 10% or so. A mandate needs to cover all Americans who are eligible for the vaccine. Even then, that won’t end the pandemic because of breakthrough cases and people who can’t get the vaccine.
I’m fully vaccinated but still too scared to go to WDW right now because I don’t want to become a breakthrough case.
I believe the court ruled that a state vaccine mandate was constitutional or the person could pay a fine (which was $5 at the time). The person paid the fine and never had to take the shot. But it was not a federal vaccine mandate. It was up to each state to decide.
Ohh no Biden must be trying to figure out how to charge Americans for freedom and everything else that is now free.
Just to clarify, the Supreme Court did rule in 1905 that STATES can mandate vaccines. What we’re talking about now is FEDERAL mandates which are, in fact, unconstitutional, and thus, invalid. Private businesses do not have to comply with FEDERAL vaccine mandates. Period.
Excellent information about the vaccine mandates.. Thank you
If the unvaccinated get sick and then demand treatment at hospitals, send them home