Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Bans Any COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates — Including For Private Employers

By jflippo98

Republican Governor of Texas Greg Abbot issued an executive order on Monday banning vaccine mandates by any person, or entity, including private business, from enforcing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate in the state of Texas.

The Governor was also calling on state lawmakers to pass a similar ban into law. “The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and our best defense against the virus, but should remain voluntary and never forced,” Abbott said in a statement.

“The Biden administration is now bullying many private entities into imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates, causing workforce disruptions that threaten Texas’ continued recovery from the COVID-19 disaster,” the order read. “Countless Texans fear losing their livelihoods because they object to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.”

The executive order continued, “No entity in Texas can compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine by any individual, including an employee or a consumer, who objects to such vaccination for any reason or personal conscience, based on a religious belief, or for medical reason, including prior recovery from COVID-19.”

Abbott added, “The executive order will be revoked once a similar bill is passed.”

Abbott’s latest executive order comes 10 days after a Texas school district’s vaccine mandate survived a legal attack by Attorney General Ken Paxton.