As COVID has become less virulent, the debate over vaccine mandates has faded. But some workers who were fired for refusing the shots are still fighting to be reinstated.
A federal judge in Middle Georgia on Tuesday ruled in favor of a U.S. Air Force officer, granting a preliminary injunction in the officer’s fight against the Pentagon’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
The coffee giant said it was responding to last week's Supreme Court ruling that rejected the Biden administration's plan to require vaccines or COVID testing at companies with more than 100 workers.
Friday on Political Rewind: Just days after a visit to Georgia where he demanded the U.S. Senate pass voting rights legislation, President Joe Biden admits the prospects for action are now dim. Is there a future for federal election reform law? Meanwhile, in his State of the State speech, Gov. Brian Kemp showcased his plans for doling out billions of dollars of state surplus money for income tax refunds, teacher and state employee pay raises, and more.
In a memo to employees, United CEO Scott Kirby said the airline has 3,000 employees who are currently positive for Covid but that zero of its vaccinated employees are currently hospitalized.
A group of 24 Republican state attorneys general, led by Louisiana’s Jeff Landry and including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio and Tennessee, challenged the mandate last month.
"My ears are my life," says composer, pianist and teaching artist Beata Moon, who experienced ear ringing after her first vaccine dose. Around the same time, she also tested positive for COVID-19.
The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals said the costs of delaying implementation of the vaccine rule would be high. Employers have until Feb. 9 to comply with the testing requirement.
The White House says the president will veto the bill if it reaches his desk. But GOP lawmakers pushed the measure as the political fight over vaccine mandates deepens.
Wednesday on Political Rewind: A Georgia federal judge blocked nationwide implementation of President Biden's vaccine mandate for employees of federal contractors this week. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr was one of the seven state attorney generals who filed for the stay, arguing the administration was overstepping it constitutional authority. Meanwhile, the second ranking Republican in the state House, Jan Jones, says she's backing a bill to prevent students from having access to "obscene" materials.
By the end of the month, workers in New York City must be vaccinated against COVID-19, but nationwide, federal vaccine rules are on hold due to numerous legal challenges.
Lawsuits against the Biden administration's vaccine-or-test requirement for private employers have been filed in almost every federal appeals court. One court will be randomly chosen to hear the case.
The state attorneys general argue the vaccine mandate will lead to shortages of health care workers and could threaten the jobs of millions of their jobs.
