New York City’s vaccine mandate for nearly all adults working in its public schools can proceed as scheduled, a federal appeals panel has ruled.
The decision reverses one made over the weekend that paused enforcement of the mandate, The New York Times reports.
In light of the latest ruling, the mandate is set to take effect on Monday, Oct. 4.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says about 97% of principals and about 95% of teachers have been vaccinated, according to estimates from the city and unions representing teachers and principals; 87% of non-teaching school staff have received at least one shot.
The vaccine mandate for city educators and school staff has been upheld twice in state and federal courts in recent weeks.
The leaders of the unions representing the city’s teachers and principals have called on de Blasio to delay the mandate, arguing that schools were not prepared to deal with staffing shortages.
Michael Mulgrew, the president of the United Federation of Teachers, said in a statement that “the city has a lot of work before it to ensure that enough vaccinated staff will be available by the new deadline.”
The New York City Department of Education said in a statement that the court’s ruling “is on the right side of the law and will protect our students and staff.”
