By JULIE CUNNINGHAM
(National) Thursday night President Joe Biden addressed the nation regarding new COVID-19 containment measures from the Federal level. One of the measures was a vaccine mandate for the private sector for any company with more than 100 employees. Any employees that do not receive the vaccine must be tested weekly for COVID-19. Also part of the mandate were measures requiring all large entertainment venues to require proof of vaccine or a negative COVID-19 test to enter, vaccines for federal workers and contractors that do business with the federal government, and vaccines for healthcare workers and Medicare and Medicaid participating hospitals, dialysis facilities, ambulatory surgical settings, and home health agencies. Employers will also be required under the mandate to allow for paid time off to receive the vaccine. Biden said the FDA will be reviewing the safety of vaccines for children under the age of 12. Overwhelmed hospitals will be receiving support through expanded Monoclonal Antibody Treatments and Federal Monoclonal Antibody Strike Teams. To read the full list of measures included in the Federal mandate, go to whitehouse.gov.