United States: judge restores vaccine obligation desired by Biden in companies

A US federal court reinstated Friday, December 17 the vaccination obligation for employees of large companies, desired by the Biden administration to stem the Covid-19 pandemic, and which had been suspended in early November by another instance.

The measure consists in forcing tens of millions of employees in companies with more than 100 employees to be vaccinated by January 4, under penalty of having to undergo very regular tests.

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Announced in mid-September, it was adopted in early November by the White House and immediately challenged urgently in court, in particular by the state of Texas, controlled by Republicans opposed to any vaccine obligation to fight the pandemic. The measure was suspended on November 6 by a Texas appeals court pending a review on the merits. Another court of appeal, in New Orleans, had maintained this suspension in mid-November, considering that the vaccination obligation

exceeded

the authority of the US government.

"It is established that the Covid-19 continued to spread, to mutate, to kill and to prevent the safe return of American employees to their work"

, explained Friday in its decision the court of appeal of the Ohio, seized in turn by the Department of Justice to judge all appeals.

This decision can still be challenged up to the US Supreme Court.

(Federal Agency for Occupational Safety and Health)

added Judge Jane Stranch.

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She notes that the Osha has already enjoyed broad powers in history to ensure the safety of workers and

.

The suspension of the vaccine obligation had been a major setback for Democratic President Joe Biden, who considered this measure

.

he said.