Taking Firm Action And Tighten COVID-19 Vaccination Obligations, President Joe Biden: We're Running Out Of Patience

JAKARTA - President Joe Biden on Thursday took aim at vaccine resistance in the United States, announcing a policy requiring most federal employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine and encouraging major employers to have their workers vaccinated or tested weekly.

The firm measures and tightening of mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations, which President Biden delivered in a speech from the White House, will apply to about two-thirds of all US employees, those working for businesses with more than 100 workers.

"We've been patient. But our patience is running low, and your refusal is costing us all", President Joe Biden told the millions of Americans who refuse to get a coronavirus vaccine shot.

Taken together, these policies and speeches represent Biden's most aggressive move to encourage Americans to refuse to get a COVID-19 vaccine amid a surge in COVID-19 cases from the fast-spreading Delta variant.

The spike has posed increased risks not only for the country but also for a president who is living up to promises to contain the virus and who earlier this year said the country was "closer than ever to declaring our independence from the deadly virus".

Despite a rigorous campaign by President Biden's administration urging all eligible Americans to get a free vaccine, just over 53 percent of Americans are fully vaccinated, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

On Thursday, Biden warned. The United States is in a difficult situation and that could last for a while.

Under President Biden's plan, the government will also require vaccination of the more than 17 million health care workers in hospitals and other institutions participating in Medicare and Medicaid social programs for poor, disabled, and elderly Americans, senior government officials said.

The new vaccination requirements cover about 100 million workers or about two-thirds of all workers in the United States, officials said.

The plan was likely to face legal challenges and was soon dismissed by Biden's opposition Republicans. It could be months before the impact of the mandate is felt.

Previously, President Biden required federal employees to be vaccinated or tested. Now federal workers have 75 days to be vaccinated, or face layoff unless they fall into the category of limited exemptions.

The US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will issue rules for private companies to require a COVID-19 vaccine or test in the coming weeks. OSHA plans to take enforcement action against those who do not comply, with hefty fines of nearly $14.000 per violation.

The medical work requirements will be implemented through a health agency regulation that is scheduled to be issued in October. In addition, the Government also plans to increase its virus testing capacity.

Additionally, President Biden will use his powers under the Defense Production Act to spur the industry to accelerate test production, and major retailers, including Walmart, Amazon.com, and Kroger, will sell tests at a lower cost.

In this regard, federal unions suggested Thursday that they would accept mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations.

To date, more than 654.000 people have died in the United States due to COVID-19. Deaths and hospitalizations increased sharply, as the Delta variant spread.