Good Day BIO: States push anti-vax bills and executive orders

To combat rising Delta cases nationwide, several states (and the federal government) are bringing back mask mandates and implementing vaccine mandates. Many others, however, are moving in the opposite direction—passing laws discouraging vaccination and the use of masks.

Anti-vaccine legislation has been on the rise in state legislatures:

• 2019: 116 anti-vaccine bills presented, 2 signed into law
• 2020: 186 anti-vaccine bills presented, 1 signed into law
• 2021: 380 anti-vaccine bills presented, 27 so far signed into law

Three main categories include:

• Banning the mandating of vaccination by employers and government services providers (118 bills introduced, 7 enacted)
• Banning schools from mandating masks and/or proof of vaccination (63 bills introduced, 15 enacted)
• Banning vaccine passports from being mandated to attend major sporting and entertainment events as well as to travel into a state (33 bills introduced, 14 enacted) 

Such bills have been enacted in 16 states: Alabama (SB 267), Arkansas (HB 1547, SB 615), Arizona (SB 615, SB 1824, H 2898, HB 2897/SB 1878), Florida (SB 2006), Iowa (HF 889), Indiana (HB 1405), Kansas (SB 159), Missouri (SB 271), Montana (HB 702), New Hampshire (HB 220), North Dakota (HB 1465, SCR 4016), Ohio (HB 244), Oklahoma (SB 658), Tennessee (HB 13/SB 187, HB 575/SB 858), Texas (SB 968), and Utah (HB 308).

Additional bills are pending signature in four states: Michigan (HB 4410), Missouri (SB 403), Ohio (SB 111), Texas (HB 4272). 

Plues’ Clues: We’ve dealt with vaccine hesitancy and anti-vaccine sentiments for years, but suspicion and outright hostility towards vaccines has really taken hold in certain segments of society this year due the rapid spread of misinformation through social media and the availability of vaccines for COVID. Vaccines have become politicized to the point where support or opposition to immunization policy has become a litmus test for political affiliations. – Patrick Plues, BIO’s VP for State Government Affairs

Do you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccines? Visit www.COVIDVaccineFacts.org. 

Listen: A recent episode of the I AM BIO Podcast features BIO Vice President for Infectious Diseases and Diagnostics Policy, Phyllis Arthur, discussing misinformation and disinformation around COVID-19 vaccines and how to fight back against it. Listen now. 

P.S. We’re in awe of all the U.S. Olympians, but we want to give a special shoutout to runner Gabby Thomas, who won the bronze in the women’s 200-meter final yesterday—and ALSO happens to be a biologist! With a degree in neurobiology from Harvard, she’s now studying for her master’s in public health with a focus on epidemiology at the University of Texas. Needless to say, we’re pretty sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of her in the future.

More Health Care News:

POLITICO: FDA targets early September for approving Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine
“While the agency had long eyed the fall for granting full licensure, officials have recently accelerated their work, and now hope to finalize approval in a matter of weeks, according to three people familiar with the matter.”

Questions about routine vaccines? Visit the CDC’s National Immunization Awareness Month resource center or Stronger, an initiative to stop the spread of vaccine misinformation. 

Questions about COVID vaccines? Visit www.COVIDVaccineFacts.org.  

More Health Care News:

Science: The overlooked superpower of mRNA vaccines
“They prevent symptomatic disease, curb hospitalization, and reduce death. But for public health purposes, a vaccine's mastery at something less obvious is equally important: the ability to prevent even asymptomatic infection.”

Where do things stand with biotech in Mexico? Agri-Pulse has the latest news.

The background:Mexico is not adhering to its ag biotech commitments in USMCA. Mexico’s food and drug regulator has not approved a new biotech trait since May 2018, and in December, Mexico's president issued a decree stating the intention to phase out biotech corn for human consumption by 2024 and refrain from future biotech approvals.   

Read: Unpacking Mexico’s economic and environmental paradox    

The current status: “The Biden administration is not letting up pressure on Mexico to resume its approvals of genetically modified crops and is continuing to formulate its next steps in addressing the precarious trade relationship with China, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai told Agri-Pulse in a wide-ranging interview Wednesday,” according to the publication.

To get specific: “We’re working this issue and it’s helpful to have partners that are strong communicators in Mexico City,” she told Agri-Pulse. “We will continue to push.” 

Read: What happened at USTR’s meeting with Mexico

BIO is keeping the pressure on, too. BIO President and CEO Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath testified about the situation before the Senate Finance Committee last week—read our recap.

President Biden’s Thursday: Busy day. Meeting with Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander civil rights leaders at 11:30 AM ET, then delivering remarks on the steps his administration is taking to strengthen American leadership on “clean cars and trucks” at 3 PM ET. Later this afternoon, he’ll sign H.R. 3325, awarding four congressional gold medals to U.S. Capitol Police and those who protected the Capitol on January 6.  

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: Not quite as busy of a day. The infrastructure bill is “crawling” through the Senate ahead of the planned recess, reports CNBC. The House is not in session.