GOV. ABBOTT BLOCKS MANDATES ON COVID-19 VACCINES EVEN IF FDA APPROVED
Governor Greg Abbott has issued an executive order prohibiting governmental entities in Texas from mandating COVID-19 vaccines, regardless of if they are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The order on Wednesday states “no governmental entity can compel any individual to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.” A previous order from Abbott in July said that those entities could not require individuals to get vaccines while they were under emergency use authorization. This week, the Pfizer vaccine received full FDA approval.
The new order maintains exceptions for nursing homes, state supported living centers, assisted living facilities and long-term care facilities.
Abbott’s order also came with the announcement that he would be adding the issue to the agenda for the Texas Legislature’s special session, which ends on September 5th.
Abbott said in a statement that the legislature has historically determined vaccine requirements and exemptions, and that the legislature’s involvement is “particularly important to avoid a patchwork of vaccine mandates across Texas.”