Military

Biden Extends Federal Contractors Vaccine Mandate to January

November 6, 2021Maggie BenZvi
federal vaccine mandate VA

COVID-19 immunization cards are distributed to vaccine recipients following their vaccinations Dec. 16, 2020, at Naval Health Clinic Hawaii. US Navy photo by Macy Hinds.

Federal contractors, including those who work directly for the military, will have almost another full month to meet a vaccine mandate deadline, after President Joe Biden announced a new deadline on Thursday. All employees of companies with more than 100 employees who hold government contracts must now be vaccinated by Jan. 4.


Previously, all federal contractors were required to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 8. Any employees who had not started a vaccination process would have had to take the single-dose Johnson & Johnson shot by the day before Thanksgiving to meet that deadline. The new deadline means that contractors now have time to receive a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine series instead. The final dose must be received by Jan. 4.


“It’s a little bit more complicated, obviously in the private sector for our contractors and our shipyards, but I think that they’re really making great attempts to try to educate their workforce that it just simply makes sense to get vaccinated,” Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro said Thursday at the 2021 Aspen Security Forum.


air force vaccine
US Air Force Tech. Sgt. Rosemary Nantz, a Reserve citizen airman, receives her first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from Tech. Sgt. Sarah Hora, an Air Force Reserve medical technician — both are with the 446th Aeromedical Staging Squadron — at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, Feb. 6, 2021. US Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ann Butler.

Some major defense contractors have made clear that not everyone in their workforce will meet the federal contractor mandate.


“We are proactively increasing our hiring now in anticipation that we may have some loss of workers,” Northrop Grumman CEO Kathy Warden said during the company’s quarterly earnings call last week.


But as one anonymous industry source told Defense One, many of the executives at large contractors are frustrated by the reluctance of a portion of their employees to vaccinate themselves.


“If you don’t like science, don’t work for a science company,” the source said.


Read Next: 800 Say ‘No’ at Air Force Vaccine Deadline



Maggie BenZvi
Maggie BenZvi

Maggie BenZvi is a contributing editor for Coffee or Die. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Chicago and a master’s degree in human rights from Columbia University, and has worked for the ACLU as well as the International Rescue Committee. She has also completed a summer journalism program at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. In addition to her work at Coffee or Die, she’s a stay-at-home mom and, notably, does not drink coffee. Got a tip? Get in touch!

More from Coffee or Die Magazine
Coffee Or Die Photo
From the Team Room to Team Room Design: An Operator’s Creative Journey

BRCC partners with Team Room Design for an exclusive T-shirt release!

Coffee Or Die Photo
Get Your Viking On: The Exclusive 30 Sec Out BRCC Shirt Club Design

Thirty Seconds Out has partnered with BRCC for an exclusive shirt design invoking the God of Winter.

Grizzly Forge BRCC shirt
Limited Edition: Grizzly Forge Blades on an Awesome BRCC Shirt

Lucas O'Hara of Grizzly Forge has teamed up with BRCC for a badass, exclusive Shirt Club T-shirt design featuring his most popular knife and tiomahawk.

BRCC Limited Edition Josh Raulerson Blackbeard Skull Shirt
From Naval Service to Creative Canvas: BRCC Veteran Artist Josh Raulerson

Coffee or Die sits down with one of the graphic designers behind Black Rifle Coffee's signature look and vibe.

Medal of Honor is held up.
Biden Will Award Medal of Honor to Army Helicopter Pilot Who Rescued Soldiers in Vietnam Firefight

Biden will award the Medal of Honor to a Vietnam War Army helicopter pilot who risked his life to save a reconnaissance team from almost certain death.

dear jack mandaville
Dear Jack: Which Historic Battle Would You Want To Witness?

Ever wonder how much Jack Mandaville would f*ck sh*t up if he went back in time? The American Revolution didn't even see him coming.

west point time capsule
West Point Time Capsule Yields Centuries-Old Coins

A nearly 200-year-old West Point time capsule that at first appeared to yield little more than dust contains hidden treasure, the US Military Academy said.

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Careers
Contact Us
Contact Us
© 2024 Coffee or Die Magazine. All Rights Reserved