Ninety-five percent of full-time New York City Department of Education employees are vaccinated against COVID-19, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday, the day his vaccination mandate for school personnel went into effect.
Everyone still working in person in the city’s public school buildings as of Monday is now vaccinated, the mayor said.
“Thousands and thousands” of substitute teachers and other replacement personnel were ready to platoon into posts that were left vacant by those who are unvaccinated and thus not allowed to work in school buildings, he said.
The 95% total vaccination rate for the department’s approximately 135,000 full-time employees includes 96% of teachers and 99% of principals, de Blasio said at his daily news conference.
“Every adult in our schools is now vaccinated, and that’s gonna be the rule going forward. And that’s the way to keep kids safe — and the whole school community safe,” he said.
It was not immediately clear how many employees have been fully vaccinated or have received just one dose.
Schools Chancellor Meisha Ross Porter said that she didn’t know how many employees were not allowed to work on Monday.
On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to block the mandate, which was challenged by municipal labor unions.
De Blasio announced the mandate on Aug. 23. Those who refuse the vaccine and don’t have an exemption — granted based on a documented medical condition — are put on unpaid leave, with health coverage maintained, or offered severance.
De Blasio has not said how long the leave would extend before a worker is fired, but on Monday suggested it could last at least two or three months.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
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