Vaccines against the pandemic that's killed over 600 thousand Americans have been free and widely available for months, but thanks to an onslaught of right-wing conspiracy theories broadcast everywhere from the dark corners of the internet all the way to Fox News.
These theories claim the vaccines carry microchips or magnets, or that they're the mark of the beast. They claim that any government efforts to implement vaccinations is a federal overreach, despite the centuries-long precedent of mandatory vaccinations for certain activities and careers.
This has been a key obstacle of the Biden administration's vaccination campaign—an obstacle that's only worsened in the face of the deadlier, more contagious Delta variant.
On Thursday, President Biden announced a six part plan to combat the latest stage of the pandemic, much of which focused on vaccinations.
As part of that plan, Biden called on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a division of the Department of Labor, to require proofs of vaccination or weekly COVID tests for businesses employing 100 people or more.
He implored willfully unvaccinated Americans:
"[O]ur patience is wearing thin, and your refusal has cost all of us. So please do the right thing, but just don't take it from me. Listen to the voices of unvaccinated Americans who are lying in hospital beds, taking their final breath, saying, 'If only I'd gotten vaccinated. If only.' It's a tragedy. Please don't let it become yours."
Unsurprisingly Republican governors across the nation railed against the announcement. Idaho Governor Kim Reynolds called the step "dangerous and unprecedented." Governors Brian Kemp of Georgia, Henry McMaster of South Carolina, and Mark Gordon of Wyoming have signaled intentions to fight the potential requirements in court.
Biden was asked about the looming lawsuit at an event on Friday, and he didn't seem fazed.
Watch below.
\u201cHave at it,\u201d President Biden says when asked about challenges to vaccination mandates in court. \n\n\u201cI\u2019m so disappointed that\u00a0particularly some of the\u00a0Republican governors have been so\u00a0cavalier with the health of\u00a0these kids.\u201d https://cnn.it/3hl8Pmm\u00a0pic.twitter.com/TNzMSxxPHP— CNN Newsroom (@CNN Newsroom) 1631285906
The President's initial answer was simple:
"Have at it."
He elaborated:
"Look, I am so disappointed that particularly some Republican governors have been so cavalier with the health of these kids. So cavalier with the health of their communities. We're playing for real here. This isn't a game. And I don't know of any scientist out there in this field that doesn't think it makes considerable sense to do the six things I've suggested."
Many social media users applauded the response.
Yup. Have at it!— Feral Carol \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Feral Carol \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1631292374
I\u2019m so proud he\u2019s a President for all Americans.https://twitter.com/cnnnewsroom/status/1436343314089840655\u00a0\u2026— dennis metcalf (@dennis metcalf) 1631295956
100%— Independent Voter (@Independent Voter) 1631288907
Go get em, Joe!— DrK (@DrK) 1631292386
I agree! I cannot believe how cavalier people overall are with the lives of children— Sandy Dan (@Sandy Dan) 1631294690
My God it feels so good to have an adult as President!— Proud Texas Diva (@Proud Texas Diva) 1631289723
They joined him in chastising the Republican rhetoric around vaccines.
If Republicans would just act like adults, we wouldn't be in this mess.— Nerzog (@Nerzog) 1631286105
Yep! They will drink orange kool-aid and follow a letter \u201cQ\u201d But, common sense to save lives and get this virus wiped out\u2026.Republican Governor\u2019s and their whatever\u2019s would rather use TAX PAYERS $$$ to sue BidenAdministration instead of getting on board to do the right thing— Debbie Curtis (@Debbie Curtis) 1631290376
Cavalier is being kind, Joe. They are literally uncaring about what happens to kids.— Lanceqmanion (@Lanceqmanion) 1631289194
The vaccines have repeatedly proven to be safe and effective.
