COVID-19 vaccine
COVID-19 vaccineiStock

The White House on Monday announced a May 11 end to COVID-19 vaccine requirements for travelers to the United States and for government employees, AFP reported.

"Today, we are announcing that the administration will end the COVID-19 vaccine requirements for federal employees, federal contractors, and international air travelers at the end of the day on May 11, the same day that the COVID-19 public health emergency ends," a statement said.

The White House noted that the pandemic had been all but stopped, leading to the government lifting restrictions dating back from when the disease was ravaging entire communities and forcing crippling economic shutdowns.

"Since January 2021, COVID-19 deaths have declined by 95 percent and hospitalizations are down nearly 91 percent. Globally, COVID-19 deaths are at their lowest levels since the start of the pandemic," Monday’s statement said, according to AFP.

According to the White House, "vaccine requirements bolstered vaccination across the nation, and our broader vaccination campaign has saved millions of lives."

Last month, President Joe Biden signed a GOP-led resolution bringing an end to the national emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic.

The resolution passed the House despite almost 200 House Democrats voting against it after the White House said it strongly opposed the measure, though it did not threaten to veto it if the bill passed.

The bill later passed the Senate in a bipartisan 68-23 vote.