President Joe Biden has announced his plans to request funding from Congress for a new vaccine — deeming it “necessary” and one he “recommends” everyone take. “I signed off this morning on a proposal … for additional funding for a new vaccine that is necessary, that works,” he said.
However, previous attempts to request funds from Congress for COVID were rejected, including the $9.25 billion the Biden administration sought in 2022. On August 11, Biden submitted a $40 million funding request to Congress that did not include money to fight COVID, but rather money that went toward Ukraine, federal disaster funds, and enforcement along the Mexico border regarding the flow of fentanyl.
In addition to the conversation on vaccines, the rise of COVID cases is sparking new debates about mask mandates. In 2020, COVID precautions blindsided the world. However, Americans are divided over the uncertainty of whether they will be reinstated — or, perhaps more accurately, if they should be.
Schools and companies, mainly across California, are already enforcing mask mandates. In opposition to these mandates, Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) posted on Twitter, “Americans have had enough COVID hysteria. WE WILL NOT COMPLY!” It’s a response that is likely to resonate with the many Americans who felt the same way when COVID first hit in 2020.
According to The Hill, “New vaccines containing the version of the omicron strain XBB.1.5 are already being developed by Pfizer, Novavax and Moderna.” Many experts emphasize how vaccines fighting COVID will need to be updated over time as it mutates.
In September of 2022, Biden announced that the pandemic was over. And yet, a year later, the government’s old patterns are resurfacing. In a comment to The Washington Stand, FRC’s director for the Center for Religious Liberty Arielle Del Turco said, “Before subjecting society to extreme COVID precautions once again, we need to take a hard look at what state officials did just a few short years ago in the name of public health.”
She continued, “We can’t forget the numerous violations of religious freedom and attacks on human dignity that came with the COVID lockdowns and vaccine mandates.” Some examples emphasized were the churches fined for in-person services and workers fired for refusing to take a vaccine.
Del Turco concluded, “Christians and all citizens should be able to have conscience objections to COVID vaccines and still participate in society. Biden is setting the stage for an extremely dangerous and borderline authoritarian situation if he is trying to create a vaccine that he says everyone should take.”
Sarah Holliday is a reporter at The Washington Stand.
