Biden’s Smart Covid Plan Depends on Enforcement
The late-summer Covid-19 surge shows that simply urging Americans to get their shots wasn’t enough. A more ambitious strategy is necessary — and that includes mandates.
Biden demands vaccination.
Photographer: Kevin Dietsch/Getty ImagesOn Thursday, President Joe Biden took bold new steps to defeat the resurgent pandemic — by strengthening the Covid vaccine mandate for federal employees and contractors, pushing big private companies to impose mandates of their own, and announcing a series of other initiatives. He was right to act, and these measures deserve wide support.
It’s good that more than 62% of Americans 12 and older are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, but tens of millions are still vulnerable. If infected, they’re at risk of severe illness. Cases, hospitalizations and deaths have all risen in recent weeks. The pandemic is not yet under control, even though the best means of bringing it under control — vaccination — is readily at hand.