White House encouraging state, local COVID-19 vaccine mandates

A syringe is filled with a dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine at a pop-up community vaccination center at the Gateway World Christian Center in Valley Stream, New York, U.S., February 23, 2021. (REUTERS/File Photo)

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE  – The Biden administration is advocating for state and local leaders to enact COVID-19 vaccine mandates, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Tuesday.

“We’re encouraging everyone … from the private and public sector to take actions to require vaccination,” she said, when asked if the White House was encouraging states to enact their own vaccine mandates.

President Joe Biden last week introduced  a federal vaccine mandate aimed at employees of big companies and all federal workers and contractors. The mandate faces legal , political and enforcement challenges.

Principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre holds a media briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., July 30, 2021. (REUTERS)

Previous vaccine mandates in the United States have mostly been introduced by state and local governments, and related to public spaces and schools.

“Last week, as you know, we took big and strong actions as part of the tools that we have … to boost vaccinations from the federal government,” Jean-Pierre said.

“We certainly advocate for local leaders to do the same,” she said, calling the push to vaccinate Americans against the spread of the coronavirus “a wartime effort.”

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