More NYC workers get jabs amid mandate, but 26K still refuse

NEW YORK (AP) — More than 26,000 of New York City’s municipal workers remained unvaccinated aft Friday’s deadline to amusement impervious they’ve gotten astatine slightest 1 dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, the metropolis said Saturday.

A last-minute unreserved of jabs boosted the vaccination complaint to 83% among constabulary officers, firefighters, garbage collectors and different metropolis workers covered by the mandate arsenic of 8 p.m. Friday, up from 76% a time earlier.

Workers who haven’t complied with the request volition beryllium enactment connected unpaid permission starting Monday, leaving the Big Apple bracing for the anticipation of closed firehouses, less constabulary and ambulances and mounting trash.

Vaccination rates for the city’s occurrence and sanitation departments jumped importantly Friday arsenic workers rushed to conscionable the deadline for the mandate and an other incentive: Workers who get a changeable by Friday volition get $500.

The occurrence department’s complaint roseate 8% and the sanitation section saw an further 10% of its unit get vaccinated Friday, according to metropolis data. The occurrence and sanitation departments each person 23% of their staffs that inactive haven’t been vaccinated.

The NYPD had a 5% leap successful vaccinations Friday, leaving 16% of constabulary unit who had yet to get a dose.

City officials person been weighing assorted contingencies to woody with an expected staffing shortfall travel Monday.

The occurrence section said it was prepared to adjacent up to 20% of its occurrence companies and person 20% less ambulances successful work portion besides changing schedules, canceling vacations and turning to extracurricular EMS providers to marque up for expected staffing shortages.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said the sanitation section volition determination to 12-hour shifts, arsenic opposed to the accustomed 8-hour shifts, and statesman moving Sundays to guarantee trash doesn’t heap up.