Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Halting Vaccine Mandate Will 'Cost Lives,' Biden Officials Tells Court
Politico: Biden Administration: Blocking Vaccine Mandate Could Cost ‘Hundreds Of Lives Per Day’
The Biden administration told a federal court Monday that a stay of its vaccinate-or-test requirement for private employers "would likely cost dozens or even hundreds of lives per day." Responding to a temporary stay imposed by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Saturday, the administration argued that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was well within its authority to issue the requirements calling for employees at large businesses to be vaccinated against Covid-19 or tested weekly. (Rainey, 11/8)
NPR: Blocked For Now, Biden's Vaccine-Or-Test Rule For Workers Faces Uncertain Future
"With the reopening of workplaces and the emergence of the highly transmissible Delta variant, the threat to workers is ongoing and overwhelming," the administration argued, while dismissing the legal objections that led to the stay as lacking merit. "Defending a policy is not a new thing," said White House Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre earlier on Monday. "The administration clearly has the authority to protect workers, and actions announced by the President are designed to save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19." (Hsu, 11/8)
CNBC: White House Tells Businesses To Proceed With Vaccine Mandate Despite Court-Ordered Pause
The White House on Monday said businesses should move forward with President Joe Biden’s vaccine and testing requirements for private businesses, despite a federal appeals court ordering a temporary halt to the rules. “People should not wait,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters during a briefing. “They should continue to move forward and make sure they’re getting their workplace vaccinated.” (Kimball, 11/8)
In other news on challenges to the mandates —
The Hill: Republican Says GOP Should Block Government Funding Over Vaccine Mandates
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) called on Republicans in Congress to attempt to block government funding legislation next month in response to the Biden administration’s vaccinate-or-test requirements that he labeled as “unconstitutional.” The Texan requested his fellow Republicans to “stand up” and prevent the government from passing a continuing resolution to extend funding beyond Dec. 3 as long as the federal vaccine mandates are in effect. (Coleman, 11/8)
Bloomberg Law: Health Worker Vaccine Mandate Expected To Withstand Challenges
The Biden administration’s mandate that health-care workers at facilities paid by Medicare and Medicare get a Covid-19 vaccination is likely to hold up against future court challenges, putting it on firmer ground than the vaccine-or-test rule for large companies that has already been halted, legal observers said. The two rules released Nov. 4 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the U.S. Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration represent a significant flex of federal muscle, testing the liberties and limits of the agencies. (Reed, 11/9)
