Biden Urges States to Provide $100 Incentive to Encourage Vaccinations

U.S. President Joe Biden has called on state governors to offer a $100 incentive for recently vaccinated individuals in an effort to combat the decline in vaccination rates amid rising COVID-19 cases. He also issued a new order mandating vaccinations for federal workers, who represent the largest workforce in the country with around two million employees. Workers will be required to show proof of vaccination or undergo mandatory testing for the virus and wear masks. Official data indicates that less than half of the U.S. population has been vaccinated. Biden stated that "the new measures are a response to the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant, which has been exacerbated by the outbreak among the unvaccinated."