The Reason US Covid Mandates Are Likely To Rise

In the US, state and local governments are increasingly realizing that unless they mandate vaccination for people they employ, rates will remain too low, breakthrough infections will rise and economic growth will begin to falter again. In the international sphere, France and Italy have initiated tougher rules for vaccination for the same reasons.

Businesses are also beginning to reckon with the potential impact on productivity and performance just as their strategies for reopening were being realized. And as courts have backed vaccination mandates in the private sector, they have evolved from appearing heavy-handed to a sensible threat response. JL

Caitlin Owens reports in Axios:

State governments, private businesses and even part of the federal government are suddenly embracing mandatory coronavirus vaccinations for their employees: the Veterans Administration, California state employees and healthcare workers, New York City municipal employees (among others). Vaccine requirements are also gaining steam internationally (France and Italy). "As each organization and industry finds the courage to mandate or strongly incentivize vaccination, it makes it that much easier for the next one to do so. Until all the pressure is on leaders who have NOT done it."

State governments, private businesses and even part of the federal government are suddenly embracing mandatory coronavirus vaccinations for their employees.

Why it matters: Vaccine mandates have been relatively uncommon in the U.S. But with vaccination rates stagnating and the Delta variant driving yet another wave of cases, there's been a new groundswell of support for such requirements.

Driving the news: Monday was a turning point.

• The VA became the first federal agency to require its employees to be vaccinated.
• More than 50 medical groups — including the American Medical Association and the American Nurses Association — called for mandatory vaccinations of all health care workers, WaPo first reported.
• California announced that state employees and health care workers must show proof of vaccination or get tested regularly.
• New York City brought all municipal workers — including teachers and police officers — under a vaccine requirement that had previously only applied to health workers.
• Even the SF Bar Owner Alliance hopped onboard, announcing that the 500 San Francisco bars it represents will require indoor customers to show proof of vaccination or a negative test.

The big picture: Vaccine requirements are also gaining steam internationally.

• French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this month required health workers to get vaccinated. Members of the public must also have a vaccinate or a negative test to enter most indoor venues.
• Although the measure has sparked protests, it's also encouraged millions of people to get vaccinated, per the NYT.
• Italy has followed France's lead.

Yes, but: Many Republican-led states have preemptively prohibited vaccine requirements, at least in some settings.

• White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki declined to say whether President Biden supports restrictions on unvaccinated people, per CNN's Kaitlan Collins.

What they're saying: "Talk about hitting a tipping point," tweeted Bob Wachter, chair of the UCSF Department of Medicine.

• "As each organization and industry finds the courage to mandate or strongly incentivize vaccination, it makes it that much easier for the next one to do so. Until all the pressure is on leaders who have NOT done it."

The bottom line: Vaccine mandates have been unpopular in part because they'll inevitably create a backlash.

• But the vaccination effort seems to have run out of carrots to incentivize more people to get a shot, and with rates remaining as low as they are in light of a worsening domestic situation, resorting to sticks has clearly become a more attractive option.