80 million eligible Americans have yet to be vaccinated. Perhaps the centerpiece of president Joe Biden's new plan will mandate workers at businesses with a 100 or more employees to get the shots or face weekly testing.
Dr. Peter Hotez with the Baylor College of Medicine says there are limits to federal powers. He says we're still going to need governors and leaders elected at the state level to buy in. "Unfortunately we've got this very destructive, self-defeating "health freedom" movement across many of the southern states that started here in Texas that's taking so many lives."
There are limits to federal power so there is only so much the president can do. "K-12 schools, the decisions on vaccines are still done at the state level. So he really can only manage things that cross interstate lines. That's a lot, that's something but it's still not going to be enough." He says Governors and elected leaders at state levels to buy in.
Part of the problem may be political. Hotez says in public view, in Texas, it doesn't appear Biden has done a lot to reach across the aisle. "He has not been down here a lot, he has not brought a lot of Texans into his inner circle in the White House."
He says Biden's plan will have some impact. "The question is, we don't know what. Is it going to close that 80 million gap down to what. Are we talking ten million, 30 million, 40 million? I don't think we really know. It won't solve all of our problems but it will make a dent."
Hotez says the pandemic will stay with us for the foreseeable future because of the Delta variant and so many unvaccinated individuals. The numbers are starting to go down a little but with a pretty long tail and is beginning to migrate more heavily north and west. He calls the situations "sobering and dire."
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Biden's executive order also requires all government employees be vaccinated. They cannot opt out. The same applies to employees of contractors who do business with the federal government.
He can only ask governors to mandate teachers be vaccinated, but he has ordered 300,000 educators in federal Head Start programs get the shots.
The 17 million health care workers employed a facilities that get funds from government programs Medicare and Medicaid will also have to be fully vaccinated.
The president has also directed the Transportation Security Administration to double the fines for passengers who refuse to wear a mask. Starting Friday, first time violators will have to pay $500 to 1000. After that fines can reach $3,000.
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