New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says he expects a “surge of vaccinations” among city workers, including members of the NYPD and FDNY, before Friday’s deadline for all city municipal workers to be inoculated against COVID-19.
City workers who don’t comply with the sweeping vaccination mandate will be placed on unpaid leave starting Nov. 1 until they get their first shot, the mayor said.
“I don’t think we are at that point yet,” de Blasio said Wednesday at his daily news briefing. “I expect a lot more in the next few days.”
On Monday, thousands of city employees marched on City Hall in protest of the vaccine mandate, shutting down the Brooklyn Bridge. Several key city agencies, including the NYPD, FDNY, Department of Corrections and Sanitation Department, which have comparatively low vaccination rates, could see major reductions in their workforce once the mandate takes effect.
If city workers are moved off the payroll, those savings could be used for additional overtime to cover the shortfall, the mayor said.
“These are agencies that have been preparing for months,” de Blasio said. “Every one of the commissioners has been absolutely confident that they can make the adjustments. And every one of the commissioners has adamantly wanted us to move forward with the vaccine mandate. So I feel ready.”
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