US requiring COVID-19 vaccines for new immigrants

The Biden administration will begin requiring immigrants to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus before they can become permanent residents.

Starting Oct. 1, proof of vaccination will be required as part of the general medical examination form that requires would-be residents “to show they are free from any conditions that would render them inadmissible under the health-related grounds.”

The U.S. already requires those seeking residency to have a number of other vaccinations, including those for measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox. 

The requirement allows for exemption for medical and religious reasons. Children are also exempted from the order.

The Wednesday announcement from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services follows an announcement from President Biden that private businesses with more than 100 employees must mandate the coronavirus vaccine or weekly testing for their workforce. 

The policy was followed with a suit from Arizona seeking to argue that the mandate for businesses was illegal since it was not also applied to those apprehended at the border.