Full name: Joseph R. Biden, Jr., President of the United States, et al., Applicants v. Missouri, et al. : Xavier Bacerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services, et al., Applicants v. Louisiana, et al.
Stephen BreyerElena KaganBrett KavanaughJohn G. RobertsSonia SotomayorSamuel AlitoAmy Coney BarrettNeil GorsuchClarence Thomas Note: Court justices do not represent any political party. The color of each judge's name represents the political party of the president who appointed the judge.
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Government can require vaccination of healthcare workers
The Supreme Court ruled that the federal government can demand that health care providers who accept Medicare or Medicaid require their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Majority: Vaccine is a standard for healthcare workers
The majority affirmed that a vaccine mandate "will substantially reduce the likelihood that healthcare workers will contract the virus and transmit it to their patients."
It added that healthcare facilities that accept Medicare and Medicaid always have been obligated to address "the safe and effective provision of healthcare."
"When asked at oral argument whether the Secretary could, using the very same statutory authorities at issue here, require hospital employees to wear gloves, sterilize instruments, wash their hands in a certain way and at certain intervals, and the like, Missouri answered yes," the majority opinion states.
The majority opinion also points out that vaccines for other diseases ordinarily are required.