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.
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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
Biden should delay vaccine mandates because of supply chain issues, Nat'l Association of Wholesaler-Distributors’ Eric Hoplin tells @smerconish.
— CNN (@CNN) October 23, 2021
“We already have a critical shortage of folks that are working through the supply chain … that order would only exacerbate the issue.” pic.twitter.com/uZGPuCwW7z
'What we're dealing with is two really important issues, the wholesale distribution industry joins
