Healthcare

Biden gives new vaccine incentives, saying ‘get a shot and have a beer’

Published

6 months ago

June 3, 2021

Staff Writer

President Biden announced a new initiative Wednesday to get 70% of all American adults vaccinated by July 4th. Among the new incentives is a free beer for everyone over 21-years-old if the country reaches the goal.

Anheuser-Busch partnered with the Biden administration and will offer free beer on July 4th for everyone who’s been vaccinated. “That’s right,” Biden said in his speech following the announcement, “get a shot and have a beer.”

Now, 63% of the adult population has received at least one shot. 75% of all seniors are fully-vaccinated.

Biden has applauded innovative incentives from the beginning, pointing to Ohio’s lottery for the vaccinated on more than one occasion. During his speech he also promised tax credits to companies that give their employees paid time off to get vaccinated.

In a tweet Thursday, the president said this is all part of an effort to make this summer “dramatically different from last year’s.”

Because of our vaccination program and our economic response — America is headed into a summer dramatically different from last year’s.

A summer of freedom.
A summer of joy.
A summer of get-togethers and celebrations.
— President Biden (@POTUS) June 3, 2021

You can follow Jenny Goldsberry on Twitter @jennyjournalism.

Related Topics:Anheuser-Busch beer Biden covid vaccine

Healthcare

American and Southwest stand by vaccine mandate, despite Abbott’s ban

Published

2 months ago

October 13, 2021

Staff Writer

American Airlines and Southwest Airlines are still planning to comply with President Biden’s executive order regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. The order requires all their employees to be vaccinated by Dec. 8t. As a result, they will be ignoring Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s ban on vaccine mandates.

Folks, vaccination requirements work. pic.twitter.com/XuBsOQxGaN
— President Biden (@POTUS) October 9, 2021

Abbott announced his own executive order, effectively banning mandates even from private employers, on Tuesday. “In another instance of federal overreach, 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,” Abbott said. “The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and our best defense against the virus, but should remain voluntary and never forced.”

Yet both airlines are requiring their employees to be vaccinated by Nov. 24. This comes despite Southwest’s impromptu cancellation of over 2,000 flights over the weekend. At the time, the airline blamed the cancellations on air traffic control and weather conditions. However, SaraACarter.com was unable to verify that any other airline had to cancel near as many flights for the same reasons. This has left many to speculate that Southwest actually cancelled flights due to their employees walking out as a direct result of the mandate.

Just got passed this flyer from a Southwest employee #FreedomFlu pic.twitter.com/Q5gXGhxoma
— Handbrake Poso (@JackPosobiec) October 13, 2021

Reporter Jack Posobiec tweeted out a flyer circulating among the anti-vaxx Southwest employees. Currently, they are planning a protest outside of Southwest headquarters next Monday. The protest will be called “Freedom Not Force.”

Southwest told Reuters it “would be expected to comply with the President’s Order to remain compliant as a federal contractor.” In addition, American similarly said Abbott’s order does not change anything.

You can follow Jenny Goldsberry on Twitter @jennyjournalism.