The Biden administration on Sunday defended its now-stalled rule requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for employees at businesses with 100 or more workers, effective Jan. 4.
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said “it would be a setback for public health” if federal courts continue to block the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Nov. 5 emergency temporary standard.
“If we want to protect our workers, these vaccine requirements will ultimately help us,” Dr. Murthy told “Fox News Sunday.”
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit on Friday kept in place its stay on the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate, saying it found “a multitude of reasons” to believe a legal challenge is “likely to succeed on the merits.”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Sunday he is “perfectly comfortable” defending his state’s challenge to the federal mandate.
“Right now we have OSHA guidelines that have not been authorized by Congress,” Mr. Paxton, a Republican, told “Fox News Sunday.” “They absolutely have no authority to do this.”
