HHS Secretary Becerra Issues Statement on Supreme Court Vaccine Mandate Decisions
Late on Thursday, Jan. 13, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s contrasting decisions on the vaccine mandates promulgated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra issued a statement, posted to the website of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Secretary Becerra stated that “Allowing implementation of the rule that health care facilities require their workers to be vaccinated will undoubtedly save lives. This is an important requirement to protect patients. Health care workers are giving their all, every day, to battle this pandemic and save lives, and this rule will help ensure that our hospitals and health care facilities are safer environments. HHS has already begun implementing this rule in some states across the country, and today’s decision will enable us to go even further.
“At the same time, it is disappointing that broader vaccine requirements have been struck down. Vaccine requirements work. They save lives. They are common sense. They are based on science. Right now, all across the country, many businesses and institutions have already begun implementing vaccine requirements, and as the President has urged, I encourage even more to do so. We all have a responsibility to protect one another and keep our communities and workplaces safe. Let’s get more people vaccinated, let’s get more people boosted, and together, we can put an end to this pandemic.”
