Disney Halts Vaccine Mandate In Wake Of New Florida Law

“As we assess the full impact of this new legislation, we are immediately pausing the enforcement of our mandatory vaccination policy for Florida-based cast members and employees until further notice,” company announces.

Disney World has dropped enforcement of its COVID-19 vaccine mandate in response to Florida enacting restrictions on businesses trying to impose mandates on employees.

“As we assess the full impact of this new legislation, we are immediately pausing the enforcement of our mandatory vaccination policy for Florida-based cast members and employees until further notice,” an internal company memo stated, according to The Epoch Times.

“All pending requests by Florida-based cast members and employees for an accommodation exempting them from the company’s vaccine mandate will be considered on hold for the time being and [there] will not be evaluation.”

Disney defended its vaccine mandate in a separate statement sent to Fox 35:

“We believe that our approach to mandatory vaccines has been the right one as we’ve continued to focus on the safety and well-being of our Cast Members and Guests, and at this point, more than 90 percent of active Florida-based Cast Members have already verified that they are fully vaccinated. We will address legal developments as appropriate.”

Governor Ron DeSantis’ (R) press secretary Christina Pushaw released a statement Saturday in response to Disney’s decision, noting it’s in the best interest of companies in Florida to obey the law.

“Disney has amended its vaccination policy to comply with Florida law,” she said. “We expect that all companies in Florida will likewise follow the law signed by Gov. DeSantis yesterday. Nobody should lose his, or her, job over COVID mandates.”

DeSantis signed the restrictions into law in Brandon, Florida on Thursday after a press conference

“We’re making sure that people have a right to earn a living, people have a right to have protections at their place of employment and that parents have protections to be able to direct the upbringing of their kids,” said DeSantis.

Companies could be fined up to $50,000 if they impose vaccine mandates in violation of the new laws.

“The laws allow employers to ask employees to become vaccinated, but also require them to allow people to opt out for religious, health and other reasons. People who previously had COVID-19 would be exempt despite evidence the vaccines provide greater protection against reinfection as well as serious cases that require hospitalization,” Reuters reported.

“Employers who refuse to allow the exemptions can be fined up to $50,000 per violation. The new laws also ban government entities from requiring vaccinations. Schools districts may not require vaccinations or ask teachers and students to wear masks.”

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