The controversial COVID-19 vaccine mandate from the Biden administration will affect 100 million Americans including those working for Missouri businesses. Regulations for federal workers will apply to more than 3,700 companies in the state, with fines of $14,000 for each violation, according to Fox 2 in St. Louis.
OSHA is drawing up the new rules for federal workers and contractors working on federally funded projects. Examples include interstate construction. That also goes for workers at health-care facilities receiving Medicare or Medicaid reimbursements and all companies with one hundred or more workers.
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce started the Covid Stops Here campaign promoting vaccinations. The chamber awards certifications to companies with vaccination rates of more than 70 percent. However, the chamber is against the president’s latest mandate for companies with 100 or more employees.
“The Biden Administration’s new COVID-19 vaccine and testing mandate is the wrong approach for business,” said Daniel Mehan, president and CEO of the chamber. “As always, the Missouri Chamber will stand against attempts to place new government mandates on our employer community.”
Each workplace is different, and employers have long held the right to establish vaccine policies that work for their businesses, he said.
“The Missouri Chamber believes all employers should continue to have this right when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine key to our economic recovery,” Mehan said. “We need to more Missourians to get vaccinated so that we can begin to put this pandemic behind us. The Missouri Chamber will continue leading in this effort and we strongly encourage all Missourians to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
“In contrast with Biden Administration’s approach, we believe the federal government should instead cooperate with the employer community to encourage vaccination and support employers that exercise their legal right to require vaccination. It’s unfortunate that this new federal policy will likely further divide public sentiment around COVID-19 vaccination.”
The new Biden mandate exempts members of Congress and their staff.
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice
