President Joe Biden is urging businesses across the United States to give workers paid time off to receive COVID-19 vaccinations.
The Biden administration is supporting businesses that do so by introducing a tax credit that will offset the cost of up to 10 work days, or 80 hours.
“One concern I’ve heard from so many Americans is that they can’t afford the time off to get vaccinated or lose a day’s work because they are feeling slightly under the weather after the shot,” Biden said during remarks from the White House in Washington on Wednesday.
“So today, I’m announcing a program to address that issue nationwide. I’m calling on every employer, large and small, in every state to give employees the time off they need, with pay, to get vaccinated. And any time they need, with pay, to recover if they’re feeling under the weather after the shot.”
The credit was part of the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion package that included various COVID-19 relief measures and other provisions, but is only being detailed now.
The credit is only good for businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 500 employers.
The credit pays businesses for employees taking time off through Sept. 1 to get tested or vaccinated for COVID-19, or because they contracted the illness, or choose to quarantine because of exposure to a confirmed or suspected case.
In addition to offering pay for time off related to vaccination, employers should “provide accurate and timely information and incentivize all Americans to get vaccinated,” such as featuring discounts for people who do get vaccinated, the White House said in a statement.
All adults and teenagers from 16 and up became eligible in every state and territory to get vaccinated against the virus that causes COVID-19 on Monday. White House officials are recommending most Americans get a COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.
Approximately 26 percent of Americans have been fully vaccinated against the virus as of Wednesday morning. Another 14 percent have received one dose.
The two most-used vaccines in the country, one from Pfizer and another from Moderna, require two doses spaced three weeks or one month apart.
The only other authorized jab is from Johnson & Johnson. Use of that vaccine is on pause as officials investigate cases where recipients developed blood clots, including one woman who died. A European regulator recently found a possible link between the clots and the jab.
Biden also talked on Wednesday about how the United States has reached his latest goal of having 200 million shots administered in his first 100 days in office.
Administration officials believe that there is enough supply without the Johnson & Johnson jab to vaccinate every American by the end of July.
From The Epoch Times
