White House coronavirus coordinator Jeffrey Zients said a December 8 vaccine mandate deadline for contractors is “flexible”, meaning employers will not have to terminate unvaccinated employees.
In a press briefing on Wednesday, Zients said federal contractors who refuse to be vaccinated will be offered education, counseling and other measures before their employment is terminated.
“And so, to be clear, we’re creating flexibility within the system. We’re offering people multiple opportunities to get vaccinated. There is not a cliff here.”
Zients’ statement means employers with more than 100 workers will not have to fire unvaccinated federal contractors on December 9.
Corporations are complaining that the federal vaccine mandates have caused contractors to resign or choose to be fired.
About 60 million people nationwide are unvaccinated, meaning they haven’t received the first two Covid-19 mRNA shots.
On Tuesday, the CDC updated its guidelines to recommend a fourth mRNA booster shot for people who are immunocompromised, such as cancer patients.
Some corporations who hold federal contracts with the government, including Southwest Airlines and American Airlines, have taken a stand against the vaccine mandates. Delta Airlines fines unvaccinated employees $200 a month.
