Texas Gov. Greg Abbott bans mandates for COVID-19 vaccine

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Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday announced an executive order banning the terms of the COVID-19 vaccine regardless of the state of approval of the vaccine to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

He also said he was adding the issue to the agenda of the current special session of the Texas legislature.

The order comes two days after the FDA granted full approval of the Pfizer vaccine. This raised questions about the fate of a previous Abbott order banning vaccine warrants, but only for those who were under emergency clearance.

Abbott’s latest order is simple: “No government entity can force anyone to receive a vaccine against COVID-19.” The order retains exceptions for places such as nursing homes and state-supported living centers.

Frequently asked questions about vaccines

  • Who is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Texas?

    All people over the age of 12 meet the requirements for the COVID-19 vaccine in Texas. Children ages 12 to 17 can get the Pfizer vaccine, but COVID-19 vaccines are not mandatory for Texas students.

  • Where can I get the COVID-19 vaccine?

    State and local health officials say the supply of vaccines is healthy enough to meet demand in much of Texas. Most chain pharmacies and many independent ones have a ready supply of the vaccine, which is administered free of charge and mainly on foot. Many private medical offices also have them. And you can check out the current lists of great vaccination centers that still operate here. Public health departments also have vaccines. You can sign up for the Texas Public Health Vaccine Program online or by phone. And companies or civic organizations can set up their vaccine clinics to offer them to business people, visitors, customers or members.

  • Should I still get the vaccine if I had COVID-19?

    Yes. Medical experts recommend that people who have had COVID-19 continue with the vaccine. If someone’s treatment includes monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, they should talk to their doctor before scheduling an appointment with the vaccine. The CDC recommends that people who received these treatments wait 90 days before receiving the vaccine.

  • Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe?

    Yes. Health experts and public officials broadly agree that the vaccine is safe. The three currently approved vaccine manufacturers – Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson – reported that their vaccines are 95%, 94% and 72% effective, respectively, to protect people from serious illness. Although no vaccine has side effects, clinical trials by Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson show that severe reactions are rare.

  • Learn more about vaccines

At the same time, Abbott asked lawmakers to consider legislation on whether state or local governments could issue vaccine warrants and, if so, what exceptions should apply.

“Vaccine requirements and exemptions have historically been determined by the legislature and their involvement is particularly important in avoiding a mosaic of vaccine mandates across Texas,” Abbott said in a statement.

Lawmakers are currently in their second special session and time is limited to move forward on the 17-point agenda that Abbott previously announced. The House finally restored the quorum last week after Democrats staged a nearly six-week protest against the Republican Party election bill.

Abbott’s latest order regarding vaccine requirements, issued on July 29, said “no government entity can force anyone to receive a COVID-19 vaccine administered under an emergency use authorization.” While there is a new state law that acted as a counterpart to Abbott’s previous order if a vaccine received full approval, it was not as extensive as the order and left the door open to new mandates.

There appears to be new potential for cities, counties and school districts to require their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The San Antonio Independent School District had already announced mandatory employee vaccinations, prompting a lawsuit by Attorney General Ken Paxton.

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