Surgeon general: Administration ‘prepared to defend’ vaccine mandate

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said President Biden’s administration is ready to fight for the implementation of a vaccine requirement for large businesses following a court ruling that went against the federal mandate. 

“The president and the administration wouldn’t have put these requirements in place if they didn’t think they were appropriate and necessary,” Murthy said during an appearance Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.”

“And the administration is prepared to defend them,” he added. 

An appeals court ruled on Saturday to temporarily stop the coronavirus vaccine mandate set forth by the administration that affects businesses with more than 100 employees.

The ruling came in response to a legal challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R). Earlier this year, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) implemented a policy banning vaccine mandates in the state. Abbott and his administration have faced criticism from Biden and public health officials for rescinding mask mandates during the pandemic and resisting statewide lockdown measures. 

“Let’s step back a moment and look at why these are so important,” Murthy said on Sunday of proposed public health measures and vaccine requirements. “Throughout our history, we have seen that we have used vaccine requirements to protect the population.” 

Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy tells @MarthaRaddatz that the Biden administration is “prepared to defend” sweeping COVID-19 vaccine mandates against legal challenges, says new requirements are “appropriate and necessary.” https://t.co/wBePNDjF7m pic.twitter.com/B3ZVCk6ODt

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) November 7, 2021

Murthy also said that it is essential that companies and governments “take every measure possible to make our workplaces safer” for the safety of employees and customers of businesses. 

“It’s good for people’s health. It’s good for the economy. And that’s why these requirements make so much sense,” he said.