President Joe Biden's plan to vaccinate the country could take a big hit after a major distribution executive called on him to delay the federal nationwide mandates because of the ongoing supply chain issues.
Eric Hoplin, president and CEO of the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, made the plea during an interview with CNN's Michael Smerconish on Saturday - following a previous warning sent to the White House from business groups to postpone the mandates or risk muddying an already messy supply chain issue.
'We already have a critical shortage of folks that are working through the supply chain … that order would only exacerbate the issue,' Hoplin, who's organization represents 35,000 enterprises across 50 states, told the CNN host.
Biden's executive order would force every employee who works for any company that has a contract with the federal government to be vaccinated by December 8.
Those who fail to comply with the mandate could be terminated.
Should the national vaccine mandate go into effect, the already troubling supply chain issues would be greatly exacerbated because the workforce risks losing non-vaccinated workers for refusing the jab, Hoplin said.
There are 100 cargo vessels and about 200,000 shipping containers currently stuck off the coast of Los Angeles, delaying everything from factory parts to sneakers and toys deliveries, according to the network, with The Guardian reporting on the issue last month.
Eric Hoplin, president and CEO of the association (right) said Biden should delay the COVID-19 vaccine mandate during an interview with CNN's Michael Smerconish (left)
Hoplin added that Biden's executive order would force every employee who works for any company that has a contract with the federal government to be vaccinated by December 8
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday that President Joe Biden, pictured, is 'not actively pursuing' bringing in the National Guard to deal with product shortages
'What we're dealing with is two really important issues, the wholesale distribution industry joins all Americans in urging them to get vaccinated,' Hoplin said.
'We want to vaccinate the country, save lives, and move past this pandemic and get this economy moving again.'
Meanwhile, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday that Biden is 'not actively pursuing' bringing in the National Guard to deal with product shortages.
'Any president has the ability to use the National Guard from the federal level. Requesting the use of the National Guard at the state level, which is often how its done, is under the preview of governors and we're not actively asking them to do that and we're not actively pursuing the use of the National Guard on a federal level,' she said.
Hoplin, pictured, did state that the industry is '100 percent pro-vaccine,' citing the fact that it was responsible for distributing the vaccine and other life saving supplies nationwide
'But it is something that any president would have the capacity to do, the authority to do, but it is not something under active consideration,' the press secretary added.
The president had previously answered in the affirmative when asked if he would send in the guard to alleviate supply chain issues that are leading to product shortages and rampant inflation.
'The answer is yes,' the president said. 'Absolutely, positively.'
Asked if he would consider sending in the guard to drive trucks, the president said: 'Yes, if we can't increase the number of truckers.'
Haulage companies are now offering six-figure salaries and $15,000 sign-on bonuses while struggling to attract 80,000 new drivers who are needed to relieve the nation's supply crisis.
The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors represents 35,000 enterprises across 50 states
Recent approval polls show that Biden has disappointed Americans more than any other president since World War II has at this point in their term, a new Gallup poll released Friday appears to show.
The newest data is from a survey taken from October 1 - 19 and compares Biden's average approval rating across the first three quarters of his term against every president since Dwight Eisenhower.
Biden lost a whopping 11. 3 percentage points from his first quarter approval of 56 percent to an average of 44.7 percent at the end of the three months spanning late July through October.
While defending distribution workers' choice to vaccinate or not, Hoplin did clearly state that the industry is '100 percent pro-vaccine,' citing the fact that it was responsible for distributing the vaccine and other life saving medical supplies and equipment nationwide.
Just over 66 percent of the country is currently vaccinated with at least one dose, according to CDC records.
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