PITTSBURGH (Newsradio KDKA) - ‘A Joe Biden win will be good for businesses in Western PA! ‘ Yes, that is what we heard following news that Team Biden secured the White House last November. However, is forcing any small business to buy covid tests or ensure that its workers are vaccinated against a virus actually good for the economy in a region that is already highly vaccinated? I don’t think so. It may not be a fatal charge but it is not good.
As a region, we have responded to the threat. And, we continue to do so. In fact, highly vaxxed Pennsylvanians are still, as a whole, staying away from large events and restaurants in greater numbers than many other states, according to online booking sites. It is OK to be cautious. But, should a highly vaxxed region be penalized or live in fear of the deadly Delta variant that is wreaking havoc in, say, low vaxxed Mississippi?
Let’s face it: employment is tenuous right now. Some businesses are struggling to keep up after being clobbered economically by mandated shutdowns, labor shortages fueled, in part, from extra unemployment benefits, and supply chain problems.
Any visionary can see that those without a vaccine are going to be marginalized in today’s society. The fear of many is where exactly the central government’s demands for conformity will eventually end. Will businesses be forced to administer booster shots from now on, as well? Shouldn’t states or counties have a say? After all, a significant percentage of people in PA have been vaxxed or have natural immunity without Oval Office pressure on employers.
This is the situation we find ourselves in following President Biden’s order that OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) mandate that all employers of over 100 people require vaccination of all employees, submit to weekly testing, or face crushing fines. Yet again small business, the backbone of America, is targeted!
OSHA would use its ‘emergency temporary standard’ power to obey the president’s command. Last issued in 1983, the ETS has been struck down 5 of the 9 times it has been wielded. This order for companies to enforce the desires of the Executive Branch will be challenged ad nauseam in court.
The federal government can force vaccinations on its employees, the military, and those entering the country. After that? Compulsory vaccination for public health concerns seems to be a localized issue not a federal power as indicated in the recent Indiana University students case. According to the Constitution Center, a 1922 ruling upheld a city or state’s ability to issue smallpox vaccines. Regardless, You’ll be hearing a lot about the 10th and 14th Amendments this week, as well as border security. The White House recently refused to answer questions about requiring migrants to be vaccinated. It is reported that 30% refuse the jab while 18% of migrants tested positive before being released, according to US Border Patrol.
Usually a president does something smart or cohesive in order to take a debacle like the exit from Afghanistan off the front page. This is not the case with last week’s national vaccine mandate by our Chief Executive as China is reportedly doing a ‘feasibility studies’ to see if abandoned Bagram Air Base fits their strategic future.
Even if it is a well-intended effort to save the general population from itself, I believe this is one of President Biden’s ‘Read My Lips: No new taxes’ and ‘If you like your doctor you can keep you doctor’ moments. He previously stated repeatedly that he would not insist on a national mandate.
This order, constitutional or not, puts yet another burden on smaller businesses that may have better options, incentives, therapies, or plans for workers. These businesses have already been pushed to the limits due to previous draconian orders over this deadly virus. Forced testing of individuals by employers will cost between $15-40 a pop for ‘in-home’ tests. This, as pharmaceutical companies are already scrambling to meet high demand for rapid tests. The costs will ultimately be passed on to you….again - if employers can even secure tests in bulk.
Speaking of well-being, here are other quick points and observations to consider:
1. Both vaccinated and unvaccinated, symptomatic and asymptomatic can spread Covid.
2. Covid is an aerosolized virus. Tiny airborne droplets can easily spread especially in poorly ventilated indoor spaces. Hence masks on planes.
3. The virus is very contagious (2.5 times more than the flu) and can be deadly especially for those with underlying conditions. The immunosuppressed must take every precaution they can, individually, to stay healthy.
4. 99% of those hospitalized in the US are reportedly unvaccinated.
5. 176 million Americans have been jabbed. There have been 2,675 breakthrough cases, according to the CDC.
6. The CDC estimates that 120 million Americans have been infected by the virus - thus have Covid antibodies or natural immunity.
7. Current hospitalization rates are about the level of late January/early February 2021.
8. According to CDC, 70.3% of Americans have at least one dose.
9. Deciding to be jabbed or not is a personal choice that could have very public ramifications. The basic vaccine has been in the works for decades and the short term evidence of safety is clear. However, long term effects of it are not. mRNA vaccines were innovated in the early 1990’s and adapted for Covid.
10. 2.31 billion people worldwide are fully vaccinated. Yes, some folks - an estimated 5 million - are allergic. Others have health reasons for refusing the vaccine. There have also been some side effects like heart inflammation (Myocarditis) or blood clots but instances are very limited.
11. The Moderna & Pfizer Covid vaccines do not contain any aborted fetal cells. However, fetal cell lines grown in a lab were used generations ago. They are no longer used in these mRNA vaccines.
12. The president’s demand came the same day that Attorney General Merrick Garland sued the state of Texas for its new pro-life law that limits choice of an abortion to 6-weeks of gestation or less. The fatality rate of abortion is virtually 100% regardless of whether someone chooses or is forced to have one. Latest figures from the CDC indicate that 619,581 pregnancies (18%) ended this way in 2019.
13. According to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center: Covid has a 98.4% survival rate in the US…(92.3% in Mexico. Canada is 98.2%). This stat does not make things any easier or more pleasant for the 1.6% and their families. 649,956 Americans have died of Covid since January 2020.
14. Children have made up about 16% of total Covid cases, according to American Academy of Pediatrics. Cases in otherwise healthy kids are rising and they can spread the disease like anyone else but severe cases & hospitalizations are very rare. Make the decision that is best for your family.
15. Vaccination rates vary by region or state or, even, race. According to Governor Tom Wolf, 82.9% of Pennsylvanians 18+ have at least one dose. 66.4% are fully vaxxed. Other states are much lower. It would be more advisable for OSHA, governors or regional leaders to incentivize & educate citizens in getting vaccinated than penalize Pennsylvania’s economy because of the failings of other states.
16. Wash your hands, blow your nose, sanitize your space, properly wear an N-95 mask, if you’d like.
Kevin Battle takes his own precautions and does not demand that you mask or show proof of vaccine in his presence. He is Co-Host of the KDKA Radio Morning Show with Larry Richert. It airs M-F 5a-9a on Pittsburgh’s 100.1FM & AM1020 KDKA or on the free Audacy app. Ask your smartspeaker to: ‘Play KDKA.’ Thank you.