Biden takes three-pronged approach to improve COVID-19 vaccination rates

The Biden administration, as well as employers, have repeatedly tried to increase the COVID-19 vaccination rates among employees and the U.S. population in general. Many employers initially avoided mandating the shots, and the administration began by offering a testing alternative to vaccinations for federal employees and contractors. More recently, however, three major developments pertaining to workplace infections emerged from the federal government, affecting federal employees and contractors as well as all private-sector employers with 100 or more employees. Let’s take a closer look.

Federal employees

On September 9, President Joe Biden issued an Executive Order (EO) requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for federal employees. The order covers all federal employees, subject to limited exceptions required by law (i.e., sincerely held religious beliefs or a medical exception). There’s no option for those who prefer to be regularly tested instead.

The EO directs the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force (established by President Biden earlier in 2021) to issue guidance by September 16 on how federal agencies should implement the new vaccination requirement.

Federal contractors