Biden to mandate vaccine for federal workers, contractors; COVID-19 testing option eliminated

President Biden on Thursday plans to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for federal workers, just weeks after he offered testing and masking as an alternative for those leery of the shots, according to a report.

An executive order requiring vaccination will apply to executive-branch workers and contractors who do business with the federal government, the Associated Press reported. 

It was unclear what kind of exemptions would be made for medical or religious reasons, though the requirement is likely to spark a backlash from people who fear side effects from the novel vaccines.

Mr. Biden is tightening the rules as the delta variant threatens to upend the first-year agenda that he calls the “build back better” plan to recover from the bruising pandemic. It also comes on the heels of a disastrous exit from Afghanistan that shook confidence in the administration.