The dispute between the US government and the governor of Texas continues: On Monday, the Texas Prime Minister Gregg Abbott (63) declared all corona vaccination obligations in his state to be invalid. “I have passed an executive order banning mandatory vaccinations by any facility in Texas,” the governor wrote on Twitter.
Last month, US President Joe Biden, 78, made vaccination compulsory for employees of federal agencies and numerous private companies.
Texas governor self vaccinated
Many leading Republicans had described compulsory vaccination as an attack on citizens’ personal freedoms. Abbott’s government has now declared that “no facility in Texas” should require a corona vaccination from employees or customers if they refuse to vaccinate on “personal conscience, religious belief or medical reasons”.
Abbott himself is fully vaccinated. “The Covid-19 vaccine is safe, effective and our best defense against the virus, but should always be voluntary and never enforced,” he said on Monday.
Around a hundred million people affected
At the beginning of September, in view of the sharp increase in the number of infections, Biden announced a corona vaccination obligation for federal employees and employees of government contractors. In addition, companies with more than 100 employees should have to ensure that their employees are vaccinated or tested once a week. According to Biden, the measures affect around one hundred million people.
The Republicans of ex-President Donald Trump (75) had immediately announced an appeal against the vaccination requirements. Abbott is in open conflict with Biden not only on Corona policy. The two are also arguing in court over an abortion ban in Texas. In addition, Abbott had tightened the electoral law in his state against opposition from the Democrats. (AFP)