The governor of Texas, Republican Gregg Abbott , announced Monday that he prohibits the requirement of the vaccine against covid-19 for any entity in that southern state of the United States, including private companies. “I issued an Executive Order prohibiting vaccination mandates by any entity in Texas, ” the governor wrote on Twitter.
Issuing an Executive Order prohibiting vaccine mandates by any entity.
This issue has also been added to the Third Special Session agenda.https://t.co/gKRf4n84Dh #txlege
— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) October 11, 2021
“The covid-19 vaccine is safe, effective and our best defense against the virus, but it should always be voluntary and never forced, ” he said.
Attached to the tweet was the press release announcing the executive order stating that “no entity in Texas may compel any individual to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, including an employee or consumer who opposes such vaccination for any reason. of personal conscience, based on a religious belief or for medical reasons, including the previous recovery of the covid-19 ».
The order came a month after Democratic President Joe Biden announced that vaccines would be mandatory for federal workers and for businesses with more than 100 employees. Many prominent Republicans have described the mandate as an overreach and an attack on personal liberties.
Abbott, who had previously vigorously opposed the requirement for the masks , tested positive for COVID-19 in August after attending a public event indoors. The governor is fully vaccinated.
While his anti-mask and anti-vaccination mandate stance has brought him support from supporters of former President Donald Trump , it has drawn strong criticism from Texas Democrats. Julian Castro, a former Democratic presidential candidate and Austin mayor, noted in August that “from day one” Abbott “has put his own policy (aspiration) (…) before public health.
