On Monday, Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order that blocks the implementation of President Biden’s mandate to have all businesses employing 100 or more people to have their workforces required to either get the COVID-19 jabs or regularly tested for the virus.
According to the executive order issued by the Republican governor, businesses and related groups operating in Texas cannot force their employees and personnel to get the COVID-19 vaccine shots because of “any reason of personal conscience.”
Moreover, the executive order warned that business entities that will violate the same should be fined up to the maximum extent allowed by the provisions of the Texas Government Code.
It highlighted that no entity in Texas “can compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine by any individual, including any employee or a consumer, who objects to such vaccination for any reason of personal conscience, based on a religious belief, or for medical reasons, including prior recovery from COVID-19.”
Notably, this is not the first time Abbott has issued a vaccine-related executive order regarding its non-implementation in Texas. In August, he ordered the prohibition of any government entity from requiring a COVID-19 vaccine shot notwithstanding its approval status.
Additionally, before his August executive order, Abbott also blocked the vaccine requirements for injections that U.S. regulators only gave an emergency use authorization (EUA).
Although the Republican governor of Texas is frequently observed to have issued several executive orders against the COVID-19 vaccine, he did acknowledge that it can help eliminate the pandemic. In fact, Abbott was already given his two full shots of the same.
However, he was one of the people who experienced a “breakthrough case” a couple of months back.
“The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and our best defense against the virus,” he pointed out in a statement. “But should remain voluntary and never forced.”
