More than 90 percent of federal workers received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by the Nov. 18 deadline set by Pres. Joe Biden, the administration reported. The president’s deadline, set in September, had to be met for government workers to maintain their jobs, unless they secured an approved medical or religious exemption. A U.S. official said the vast majority of federal workers are fully vaccinated and that a smaller number have pending or approved exceptions to the mandate.
In all, more than 95 percent of federal workers are in compliance with the Biden mandate, administration officials said, either by being vaccinated or having requested an exemption. Workers who are not in compliance are set to begin a “counseling” process that could ultimately result in their termination if they don’t get a shot or secure an approved exception to vaccination.
The deadline was a major test of Biden’s push to compel people across the country to get vaccinated, as his administration has emphasized that vaccination is the nation’s surest way out from the pandemic, Reuters said. There was considerable concern over whether federal employees would follow the mandate, particularly in law enforcement and intelligence agencies where there was vocal resistance, and among federal workers involved in the travel sector heading into the busy holiday travel season.
