NYC Mandates Vaccines for All Teachers and Staff

On the heels of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) announcement that it had afloat approved Pfizer and BioTech’s Covid-19 vaccine, New York City volition necessitate each Department of Education employee to person received astatine slightest 1 dose of a Covid-19 vaccine by September 27. There is nary quality to opt out.

“The new, stricter mandate, which was announced connected Monday, volition impact immoderate 148,000 metropolis employees. It is an escalation successful Mayor Bill de Blasio’s effort to dilatory the dispersed of the Delta variant by getting much metropolis residents vaccinated,” The New York Times reported.

Mayor de Blasio made his announcement earlier this morning.

“The New York City Department of Health volition beryllium issuing an bid requiring each unit successful the New York City nationalist schools to beryllium vaccinated,” de Blasio said. “This volition necessitate each unit of each kind––principals, teachers, custodians, nutrient service, you sanction it––needs to person 1 dose by September 27.

Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers, estimates that astir 80% of the organization’s members person been vaccinated.

In a statement, helium said, “Our archetypal precedence is keeping our kids safe, and the schools open.  The city’s teachers person led the mode connected this issue, with the large bulk already vaccinated.  While the metropolis is asserting its ineligible authorization to found this mandate, determination are galore implementation details, including provisions for aesculapian exceptions, that by instrumentality indispensable beryllium negotiated with the UFT and different unions, and if necessary, resolved by arbitration.”