A coalition of 10 states on Wednesday sued the federal government of the United States to try to block the requirement of vaccination against COVID-19 for health workers, creating a new front of resistance from Republican entities against the policies of President Joe Biden to face the pandemic.
The lawsuit filed in federal court in Missouri argues that the vaccination requirement threatens the jobs of millions of health care workers and could “compound an alarming shortage” of medical personnel, particularly in rural areas where some health workers are reluctant. to get vaccinated.
The lawsuit followed similar lawsuits in which Republican-ruled states challenged new regulations from the Biden government that require federal contractors to ensure their employees are vaccinated against COVID-19 and that companies with more than 100 workers. require them to be vaccinated or wear masks and undergo coronavirus testing every week.
All mandatory measures are scheduled to go into effect on January 4.
The Biden administration points out that federal regulations take precedence over state policies that prohibit mandatory vaccines and affirms they are essential to slow the pandemic, which has caused 755,000 deaths in the United States.
However, the Federal Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit has already temporarily blocked the obligation to companies because, he said, it raises “serious statutory and constitutional questions.”
The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued separate regulations last week to require vaccination against COVID-19 for more than 17 million workers in some 76,000 care facilities. physician and home health care providers who receive resources from such government health programs.
The new lawsuit states that the mandatory vaccination required by CMS is unprecedented and unjustifiably broad, because it even affects volunteers and staff who do not work with patients on a regular basis.
“The enforcement is a flagrant attempt to federalize public health issues related to vaccines that belong to the authority of the states,” says the lawsuit filed by Missouri Attorney General, Republican Eric Schmitt, who is seeking to be a federal senator. .
The attorneys general from Alaska, Arkansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, New Hampshire and Wyoming joined the lawsuit. All are Republicans except for Attorney General Tom Miller of Iowa, whose state is headed by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds.
A CMS spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit.
–
