Blas orders vaccine for all muni workers

All New York City municipal employees will be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, Mayor de Blasio announced Wednesday.

The workers — including firefighters and cops — will be mandated to get their first dose by 5 p.m. on Oct. 29, the mayor said.

Those who do will get an extra $500 in their paycheck as an incentive.

Members of the city workforce who have not started their vaccine series by Nov. 1 will be placed on unpaid leave until they provide proof of vaccination.

“It’s a mandate now for all city agencies, all city workers. It’s time for everyone to get vaccinated,” de Blasio said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”

“We need to reassure all New Yorkers that, if you’re working with a public employee, they’re vaccinated, everyone is going to be safe.”

But uniformed correction officers have until Dec. 1 to receive their first jab, due to an ongoing staffing shortage at beleaguered Rikers Island.

“We need people to come back, and we need to address real situations there, so we’ve added a month for that small group only,” de Blasio explained. “But it’s still a mandate.”

Previously, only Department of Education staff and city health workers were required to be inoculated against COVID-19 — but were not eligible for the $500 bonus. De Blasio brushed off concerns they’d now be resentful, saying he was just being “practical.”

The current vaccination rate among the city’s workforce stands at about 83 percent. But that number is significantly lower among cops and firefighters.

The NYPD has a vaccination rate of 69 percent among its 55,000 cops and civilian members. Among FDNY workers, the vaccination rate is just 59 percent.

Pat Lynch, president of the Police Benevolent Association, vowed to take City Hall to court.

“Now that the city has moved to unilaterally impose a mandate, we will proceed with legal action to protect our members’ rights,” he said.

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea has declared full support for a mandate for police officers, citing the virus’ recent toll on cops.

The news about the mandate did not sit well with at least one local elected official, who had a warning for de Blasio.

“I think the mayor is going to find out it was easy when he had a compliant union like the UFT, but it’s going to be difficult when labor leaders are more resolved to push back,” said Councilman Joe Borelli (R-SI). “The minute an engine company goes out the door shorthanded, we’ll all realize we’ve made a terrible mistake.”

Many first responders had been happy with the previous rule that required them to be vaccinated or subject to regular COVID-19 testing.

Hundreds flocked to Times Square last weekend to voice their outrage about vaccine mandates.

Additional reporting by Sam Raskin

If ou’re workin with a ublic employee one is oin to be safe. — Mayor de Blasio