Where public opinion stands on COVID vaccine
React19 co-founder Brianne Dressen and medical analyst Marc Siegel discuss the latest viral outbreak in China and where public opinion stands on the COVID vaccine on a news show.
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In a significant move to reverse pandemic-era mandates, the current administration has instructed all federal agencies to eliminate any records related to employees’ COVID-19 vaccination status, prior mandate noncompliance, or exemption requests.
The guidance, issued by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), was prompted by recent legal challenges and is part of a broader effort to undo what officials have characterized as “harmful pandemic-era policies” implemented under the previous administration.
“The situation during the pandemic spiraled out of control, leading to federal workers being terminated, disciplined, or sidelined for simply making a personal medical choice,” OPM Director Scott Kupor stated. “That should never have occurred. Thanks to the leadership, we are ensuring that the excesses of that time do not have long-lasting effects on federal workers.”
COVID-19 vaccine information will be deleted from federal employees’ personnel files. (Raychel Brightman/Newsday RM via Getty Images)
TRUMP ADMIN ISSUES NEW GUIDANCE TO PROTECT RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION ACROSS FEDERAL WORKFORCE
Former President Joe Biden signed Executive Order 14043 in September 2021, mandating federal agencies to require COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of federal employment.
Following the controversial directive, numerous legal challenges were filed by federal employees, unions, and states alleging that the mandate violated constitutional rights and federal labor laws.
The new mandate will address guidelines in a repealed executive order from the previous administration. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
EXCLUSIVE: TRUMP ADMIN STRENGTHENS RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS IN FEDERAL WORKFORCE
A federal appeals court blocked enforcement of the order in 2022, and the mandate was repealed in May 2023, prompting OPM officials to issue a memorandum to human resources directors instructing them to ensure that job postings no longer list compliance with the revoked Executive Order 14043 as a qualification requirement.
The memo also reminded agencies that the executive order could no longer be enforced.
Agencies are prohibited from using a person’s vaccine history or exemption requests in any employment-related decisions. (Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images)
SUPREME COURT LETS TRUMP’S ‘WRECKING BALL’ FEDERAL JOB CUTS PROCEED WHILE LEGAL FIGHT CONTINUES
In a memo to heads and acting heads of departments and agencies, Kupor announced that agencies are now prohibited from considering a person’s vaccine history or exemption requests in any employment-related decisions, including hiring, promotion, discipline, or termination.
Unless an employee opts out within 90 days, all vaccine-related information must be permanently removed from both physical and electronic personnel files.
Agencies must confirm compliance with the memo by September 8, as per the memo.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
