A group of Texas doctors is calling on Governor Greg Abbott to rescind his executive order banning vaccine mandates.
It was Monday that Abbott signed the order that prohibits even private businesses from instituting vaccine requirements. Some businesses like southwest airlines, American Airlines, Dell, and IBM are flouting the governor's order -- which may clash with president Biden’s federal order for large businesses to put a vaccine mandate into place.
Doctor Audrey Nash is a neurologist in Houston, and a member of the Committee to Protect Health Care. “As physicians and health medical professionals we're here today to call out governor Greg Abbott to rescind his executive order from Monday,” she said. The doctors say the ban on vaccine mandates is bad for Texas business. “Quite simply, when the workers and employees become infected, then that's lost days of work, those are days in the hospital.”
The governor's order has drawn sharp criticism -- multiple businesses have publicly stated they are ignoring it, and others argue that Abbott’s order is in direct violation of President Biden’s order on vaccines.
Turning the issue into a political showdown. But the doctors say its bad science. “Governor Abbott’s recent executive order must be seen for what it is -- a politically drive, anti-vaccine policy that threatens to make people sicker from COVID-19,” Dr. Nash said.
Abbott added the topic to the special session agenda in the legislature, hoping to turn the order into law.
Doctor Keith Martin is an internist and epidemiologist. He says one-third of COVID survivors have long-term health effects from the virus. And even prior infection isn't long-term protection from the virus. “Over time the antibody levels from both vaccination and in natural infection begin to decline and wane and with that we believe there's an increase in susceptibility,” he said.
The governor has given no indication that he plans to reverse any of his orders pertaining to COVID-19 -- leaving the matter to the legislature and, perhaps, the federal government. “if there were no vaccine mandate, I think we would see continuing movement of the infection rate through the population and keep in mind these infections have multiple effects,” said Dr. Martin.
A ban on vaccine mandates was in front of a Texas Senate committee Thursday. Senate Bill 51 would open businesses that have vaccine mandates -- to discrimination lawsuits. The committee okayed it. Governor Abbott has said the vaccine is the best defense against coronavirus but should always be voluntary.