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The White House on Friday encouraged unvaccinated Americans to “get off the sidelines” and get their shots as it praised moves to mandate vaccinations or negative tests at college football games, and universities more broadly, on Friday.
“If you’re an American who is not yet vaccinated or if you’re an employer who has yet to adopt vaccination requirements, we have a very simple message: get off the sidelines, step up, and do your part. Individuals, get vaccinated, employers, adopt vaccination requirements. You have the power to protect your communities and help end the pandemic,” White House Covid-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients said Friday at a rescheduled, audio-only Covid briefing Friday.
Zients ticked off a list of federal vaccine mandates, including for federal workers in the Veterans Administration and Health and Human Services Department health care personnel, then touting “momentum” for requirements in the private sector. He praised Disney, Deloitte, and the City of Chicago for instating vaccine requirements, and noted an endorsement of the policy from Business Roundtable.
He also praised The Ohio State University for a student, faculty, and staff vaccine requirement, as well as Louisiana State University, which is requiring vaccination or proof of a negative test to attend a football game this fall.
“Together, these vaccination requirements add up to make a big difference, helping protect tens of millions of Americans at work, at school, in healthcare citizens, and at sporting events,” Zients said.
Zients also touted “critical progress” in vaccinating young people, announcing that 50% of 12-17 year-olds have had at least one shot.