In June 2021, the initial EUA status of the vaccines led to challenges as to whether such mandates were legal, as FDA regulations state that a person must be informed "of the option to accept or refuse administration of the product, of the consequences, if any, of refusing administration of the product, and of the alternatives to the product that are available and of their benefits and risks".
In some cases, provisions that are described as a vaccine mandate are officially termed as a constraint requiring those who are not fully-vaccinated for COVID-19 to undergo regular testing-thus allowing for medical or religious exemptions to be fulfilled when needed. In August 2021, several cities announced plans to require proof of vaccination for patrons of certain types of non-essential indoor venues. Worker and traveler mandates Private mandatesĪs of July 2021, vaccination mandates have largely been enforced by means of employers, including private businesses and governmental divisions, while some private businesses such as restaurants and event promoters may also decline to serve customers if they do not present proof of vaccination. When acting as president-elect in December 2020, Biden said he did not intend to mandate that all citizens receive a COVID-19 vaccine, arguing that "I will do everything in my power as president to encourage people to do the right thing and when they do it, demonstrate that it matters." BBC News writer Anthony Zurcher felt that Biden avoided a general mandate due to the "stubbornly pervasive" anti-vaccine movement in the country, which "could create a groundswell of opposition that would prove counterproductive to public health." Furthermore, in April 2021, the Biden administration ruled out plans for a federal database, "credential", or " passport" to verify COVID-19 vaccination status, citing data privacy and discrimination concerns. 4 Mandates for entry to private facilities.3.3 County and municipal vaccine mandates for workers.3.2 State and territorial vaccine mandates for workers.