Courts banned from coercing teachers and health workers in New York to vaccinate against COVID-19

Two court decisions from September 14 could have a big impact on New York City's COVID-19 vaccination requirements. New York Supreme Court Judge Lawrence Love temporarily blocked the city's mandate to vaccinate teachers on September 14. The decision came after several municipal agencies sued the city. PIX 11.

The mayor on August 23 ordered teachers and public school staff to begin vaccination (receive at least one dose of vaccine) by September 27. Those who do not fulfill this requirement will be suspended from work and then fired.

However, teachers' advocates have sued the city. They believe that city employees should be vaccinated, however, this should not be a condition for hiring or maintaining a position.

The court appears to agree with this idea and temporarily suspended the mayor's vaccination mandate for teachers. The court has set the next hearing date for September 22, so that both parties can present their views.

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Doctors shouldn't be forced to vaccinate either.

Also on Tuesday, September 14, a federal judge temporarily suspended the state's mandate to enforce vaccination of health care workers. The reason was a lawsuit filed by a group of medical workers, claiming that the mandate violates their constitutional rights, as it prohibits religious exceptions.

The court gave the state until September 22 to respond to this lawsuit.

Healthcare workers in hospitals and nursing homes must receive at least one dose of COVID-28 vaccine by September 27, according to a state order dated August 19. But now this order has been suspended.