The Department of Justice on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to reinstate its COVID-19 vaccine for healthcare workers after lower courts blocked the mandate from being enforced in certain parts of the country. The vaccine mandate in question was rolled out by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which conditioned Medicare and Medicaid funding to hospitals and medical facilities on whether or not staff received the vaccine. Under the mandate, all healthcare staff at such facilities have to receive the vaccine and have the option to seek a medical and religious exemption. The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Dec. 15 issued a series of rulings that essentially left an injunction intact in 24 states, meaning that in about 26 states, the CMS mandate was essentially revived. The Justice Department, in its application on late Thursday, requested (pdf) the Supreme Court to lift the rulings while the case proceeds. Justice Brett Kavanaugh …