A federal court in Missouri has blocked the Biden administration from enforcing a coronavirus vaccine mandate for health care workers at federally-funded facilities in 10 states.
Why it matters: Monday’s decision is the first victory for opponents of the rule, which requires health care workers to get vaccinated by Jan. 4, 2022. The case is one of four lawsuits challenging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) rule and argues that the mandate will exacerbate staffing shortages.
Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free
What he’s saying: The mandate exceeds the agency’s authority, U.S. District Judge Matthew Schelp wrote in the opinion.
“The nature and breadth of the CMS mandate requires clear authorization from Congress—and Congress has provided none,” he said.
Along with its “political significance,” the cost of compliance with the mandate — around $1.38 billion in the first year — represents the “heavy hand of the federal government,” he added….
news.yahoo.com/federal-court-blocks-bidens-vaccine-214422968.html