Republicans slam Biden vaccine rule for businesses as health groups defend it

Divided reaction to mandate requiring that large companies either vaccinate staff or administer tests mirrors vaccine rollout in US

Biden administration plans to get US companies with more than 100 or more workers to vaccinate their staff or bring in regular tests have been welcomed by public health groups but slammed by Republicans and trade groups, who claim government overreach with negative economic consequences.

Such divided reaction to the rules announced last week mirrors much of America's problematic vaccine rollout, where social and political headwinds have seen vaccination take-up slow down worryingly. US vaccination rates are some of the lowest in industrialized countries where the vaccine is readily available.