Different vaccine rules for prison guards concerning
A fight to vaccinate California’s prison guards is raging, and the prolonged struggle invites scrutiny of the state’s prison guard union and of Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Last week, a Kern County judge partially blocked a public health order that would have required all California prison employees who work around or near prison health care settings to be vaccinated against COVID-19. More specifically, the judge’s order, which came at the request of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, prevents enforcement of the vaccination mandate only for guards and peace officers.
Complicating matters further is a Sept. 27 ruling from U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar.
The federal judge ordered the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to plan to vaccinate all prison employees within two weeks, and the department presented a plan that included progressive discipline beginning Nov. 15 for all employees who had not received at least their first vaccine dose.
However, Newsom’s office and the department filed a notice last week indicating that the state plans to appeal Tigar’s decision.
Newsom’s opposition is surprising given his previous positions on vaccination mandates. He has, for example, supported a mandate that will require COVID-19 vaccination for all private and public schoolchildren grades seven and up, after
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gives full approval of the vaccine for children ages 12 and older.
The explanation statement Newsom’s office gave regarding the inconsistency just bragged about the state having the lowest overall transmission rate and highest vaccination rate in the nation and noted