After President Joe Biden’s announced new COVID-19 vaccine requirements, which will affect around 100 million Americans, United States citizens have become outraged at the president’s push for mandating vaccines.
In his White House speech on Sept. 9, Biden explained his desire for the vaccines to be mandated. According to the New York Times, Biden proposed that all healthcare workers, federal contractors and federal workers be required to take the vaccine. If these individuals do not comply, they could possibly face disciplinary measures.
Additionally, according to the New York Times, under Biden’s plan, it will be mandatory for businesses with one hundred or more employees to require either the vaccine or COVID-19 testing every week. This will go into place once the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) implements a rule that requires this of businesses.
Biden expressed frustration towards those who are eligible for the vaccine but have yet to receive it.
“We’ve been patient, but our patience is wearing thin. And your refusal has cost all of us,” Biden said.
Currently, there are roughly 80 million people in the United States who are eligible for the vaccine but have not received it, according to The New York Times.
Many people have taken to social media to voice their disappointment and anger towards Biden’s views on the vaccine. Many people believe that forcing the vaccine into the arms of citizens is infringing on their freedom.
Coleman Smith, a freshman sport management major, is skeptical of the vaccine.
“I don’t agree with it, to have a vaccine rushed out in a year and expect people to trust it. It is a little premature,” Smith said.
The Democratic Party is facing backlash for the push for vaccine mandates, despite the vaccines being approved under a Republican administration.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 670,565 reported deaths from COVID-19 in the United States and 385,586,012 vaccines administered as of Sept. 19.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, hospitals began posting the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths they were seeing. Now, these same hospitals are showing the wide gap between cases of people who are vaccinated and those who are not.
Many hospitals are seeing that those who are experiencing the worst of COVID-19 symptoms are those who have not been vaccinated.
