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Joe Biden

Biden to end COVID-19 vaccination requirement for federal workers, international travelers

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden announced plans to lift the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for federal employees on Monday.

The White House said the vaccination requirement would end for federal employees and contractors on May 11 when the national coronavirus emergency is also due to end. It also applies to international travelers.

“While vaccination remains one of the most important tools in advancing the health and safety of employees and promoting the efficiency of workplaces, we are now in a different phase of our response when these measures are no longer necessary,” the White House said.

The administration said it also starting a process to end vaccination requirements for Head Start educators, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services certified healthcare facilities and certain foreign nationals at the land border.

Last month, Biden signed legislation ending the national coronavirus emergency. But his administration opted to leave federal vaccination requirements in place, including for international travelers. It had previously ended a pre-departure COVID testing requirement for overseas flights last summer.

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In February, the White House opposed a bill that would have terminated the vaccination requirement for foreign nationals arriving by air, saying the policy had helped control the spread of coronavirus. The administration pledged in a statement at the time to review the policy, in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as the end date for the public health emergency neared.

The U.S. Travel Association welcomed the policy change on Monday, saying in a statement that the decision "eases a significant entry barrier for many global travelers." The organization that represents the travel industry also warned of potential congestion in U.S. airports at custom as a result of increased international arrivals.

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