Abbott prohibits mandating COVID-19 vaccine

Staff Reports

AUSTIN – Governor Abbott issued an Executive Order maintaining the current policy prohibiting the mandating of any COVID-19 vaccinations by any government entity in the State of Texas.

Additionally, the Governor added to the Special Session agenda the issue of whether any state or local governmental entities in Texas can mandate that an individual receive a COVID-19 vaccine and, if so, what exemptions should apply to such mandate. 

“Vaccine requirements and exemptions have historically been determined by the legislature, and their involvement is particularly important to avoid a patchwork of vaccine mandates across Texas,” said Governor Abbott.

The order comes just days after the FDA granted full approval to the Pfizer vaccine. The order has exceptions for places like nursing homes and state-supported living centers.

Abbott’s order largely provides vaccine mandate restrictions to governmental entities, though it says a “public or private entity that is receiving or will receive public funds” cannot require a customer to provide vaccination proof to receive a service.

Private businesses are still banned from requiring vaccination proof from customers under the new state law, Senate Bill 968. But neither Abbott’s latest order or the new law address vaccine requirements for private business employees.