The White House announced Monday that on May 11 it will end the requirement to present the covid vaccine for travelers and U.S. government officials.
"Today we are announcing that the administration will end the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for federal employees and contractors, and air travelers at the end of May 11, the same day the COVID-19 public health emergency ends," he said in a statement.
More than a million people died from covid-19 in the United States. But the White House said the pandemic all but came to a standstill, prompting the government to lift restrictions that were in place as the disease wiped out entire communities and forced economic paralysis.
"Since January 2021, COVID-19 deaths have fallen by 95% and hospitalizations dropped close to 91%. Globally, covid deaths are at their lowest levels since the beginning of the pandemic," the statement said.
According to the White House, "vaccine requirements bolstered vaccination across the country, and our extensive vaccination campaign has saved millions of lives."
While requiring vaccination for foreigners aboard U.S.-bound flights was common practice in many countries, mandatory vaccination for government employees sometimes drew fierce political pushback at home.
In addition to ending vaccine rules, President Joe Biden announced in April that he was officially declaring an end to the national health emergency that for more than three years underpinned a series of extraordinary government actions.
- Covid 19
- Coronavirus
- Vaccines
- United States
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