New York orders police vaccinations as officers across US resist

NEW YORK: New York City ordered all police officers to get vaccinated against Covid19 Wednesday, setting up a showdown with the force’s union as cops across the United States challenge mandated inoculations.

The directive — which also applies to firefighters, prison guards and sanitation workers — comes as disgruntled officers in Chicago and Los Angeles push back against proof of vaccination requirements.

Vaccine rates amongst the New York Police Department lag behind the city average: some 71 per cent of the force’s 55,000strong staff have been inoculated compared to 84 per cent of all adults in the Big Apple.

In a bid to boost the rate, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that all public workers must provide proof they have received at least one vaccine dose, or risk losing their jobs.

“I’m saying this to every mayor, every governor, every CEO, it’s time for these mandates, finish this war, or we’re going to have Covid with us way too long,” he told MSNBC.

The order applies to 160,000 city employees and will come into force from Nov 1. Corrections officers will have another month to get vaccinated due to a staffing crisis at Rikers Island prison.

“Unvaccinated employees will be placed on unpaid leave until they show proof of vaccination to their supervisor,” the mayor’s office said in a statement.

They will not have the option of providing a negative test instead, but medical and religious exemptions will be allowed. The New York City Police Benevolent Association, the world’s largest municipal police union representing some 24,000 officers, said it would challenge the move.