Texas Governor Prohibits Vaccine Mandates by Any Entity

Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order on Monday prohibiting any entity from compelling an individual to take the COVID-19 vaccination. The governor’s office said this includes employees and consumers.

“The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and our best defense against the virus, but should remain voluntary and never forced,” Governor Abbott said in a written message.

The executive order issued Monday afternoon states:

1. No entity in Texas can compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine by any individual, including an employee or a consumer, who objects to such
vaccination for any reason of personal conscience, based on a religious belief, or for medical reasons, including prior recovery from COVID-19. I hereby suspend all relevant statutes to the extent necessary to enforce this prohibition.

2. The maximum fine allowed under Section 4 1 8. 173 of the Texas Government Code and the State’ s emergency management plan shall apply to any “failure to comply with” this executive order. Confinement in jail is not an available penalty for violating this executive order.

3. This executive order shall supersede any conflicting order issued by local officials in response to the COVID-19 disaster. Pursuant to
Section 418.016(a) of the Texas Government Code, I hereby suspend Sections 418.1015(b) and 418.108 of the Texas Government Code, Chapter 8 1 , Subchapter E of the Texas Health and Safety Code, and any other relevant statutes, to the extent necessary to ensure that local officials do not impose restrictions in response to the COVID-19 disaster that are inconsistent with this executive order.

Governor Abbott went on to add a call for legislative action in the current third called Special Session to codify the order into law.

The governor called for consideration:

Legislation establishing that no entity in Texas can compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine by any individual, including an employee or a consumer, who objects to such vaccination for any reason of personal conscience, based on a religious belief, or for medical reasons, including prior recovery from COVID- 19.

Governor Abbott did not put an end date on the executive order.