Congressman urges Biden to end COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare.

Top Congressman Urges Biden Administration to End COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Health Care Workers

A top congressman, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), has called on the Biden administration to immediately end the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers. The mandate was imposed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) and covers facilities that participate in Medicare and Medicaid, affecting over 10 million workers.

End of Public Health Emergency

The COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) is ending on May 12, and several COVID-19 vaccine mandates are also ending at the same time. However, it is not clear when the HHS mandate will end, prompting Rep. Johnson’s letter to Health Secretary Xavier Becerra.

Health Care Worker Shortages

Rep. Johnson noted that there are serious health care worker shortages that have grown worse during the pandemic, at least partly because of the mandate and burnout. Rescinding the mandate would be a “simple fix” that would help address the shortages, he said.

CMS Response

A CMS spokesperson told The Epoch Times via email that “CMS will soon end the requirement that covered providers and suppliers establish policies and procedures for staff vaccination” and that “CMS will share more details regarding ending this requirement soon.”

The White House has stated that HHS will “start the process” to end the mandate, but no end date has been given. The Epoch Times has requested comment from HHS and the White House but has not received a response by press time.

• Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) has called on the Biden administration to end the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers.
• The mandate was imposed by the HHS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid and covers facilities that participate in Medicare and Medicaid, affecting over 10 million workers.
• The COVID-19 public health emergency is ending on May 12, and several COVID-19 vaccine mandates are also ending at the same time.
• Rep. Johnson noted that there are serious health care worker shortages that have grown worse during the pandemic, at least partly because of the mandate and burnout.
• A CMS spokesperson told The Epoch Times via email that “CMS will soon end the requirement that covered providers and suppliers establish policies and procedures for staff vaccination.”

The Biden administration should act now to end the mandate and address the health care worker shortages.