26K NYC workers remain unvaccinated after Friday deadline

Twenty-six percent of municipal employees in New York City were still unvaccinated following a Friday deadline that mandated workers get the COVID-19 vaccine.

A significant jump in vaccinations occurred among city employees due to the deadline, the city said, according to The Associated Press, but more than 26,000 workers have not uploaded proof of their vaccination status and face unpaid leave as a result.

Police officers, garbage collectors and firefighters have all seen their vaccination rates go up as the deadline approaches.

On Thursday, 76 percent of officers, firefighters and garbage collectors were vaccinated, according to city data. On Friday, the number went up to 83 percent. 

The sanitation department saw an increase of 10 percent in the ranks of vaccinated employees that day, firefighters saw an 8 percent increase and police officers saw a 5 percent increase, according to the AP. 

There have been lawsuits across the country, with police departments and other city workers fighting government COVID-19 mandates.

The head of the Chicago police union told its members not to obey the city’s vaccine mandate, for instance, with some suburban sheriffs saying they won’t help cover staffing shortages in the city. 

New York City is having to prepare for a loss in workers from the mandate, with the fire department ready for 20 percent fewer fire companies and 20 percent fewer ambulances, the AP noted. 

The departments are also working on rearranging schedules in order to deal with the loss of employees. 

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) has continued to push the mandate, saying it is the best way to keep the city safe.