INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb has issued a statement on President Biden's announcement to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine.

Biden wants to mandate the vaccine for employers with more than 100 staff members. In his statement, Holcomb says he believes the vaccine is the number one tool that will protect people against COVID-19, and it is the tool that will end the pandemic. However, Holcomb says he strongly believe it’s not the state or federal government’s role to issue a vaccine mandate upon citizens and private businesses. He says that is the approach his administration has taken all along. Holcomb says the announcement from President Biden is a bridge too far.

The Governor says private businesses should be able to look at their own mission, their staff and their goals and make the decision best for them that will keep their doors open. Holcomb says he believes it is fundamentally a citizen’s right to choose whether or not to get the vaccine. While he wishes everyone would get the vaccine, Holcomb says we are a country built on this exact type of freedom.