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2,300 FDNY firefighters call out sick as COVID vaccine mandate enforced

By FOX 5 NY Staff
Updated  November 1, 2021 1:49pm EDT
FDNY
FOX 5 NY

FDNY staffing shortage

Thousands of firefighters are on sick leave as the city's vaccine mandate kicked in. Fire Commissioner Nigro believes many of the members who called in sick are actually protesting the mandate.

NEW YORK - Approximately 2,300 FDNY firefighters, or more than 2.5 times the normal daily rate, called out sick Monday as the city's COVID vaccine mandate went into effect. 55% of those out "sick" had yet to receive the vaccine.

Concerns are growing over the potential shortage of firefighters who refuse to get at least one shot after the mandate was announced approximately 11 days ago.

Unions representing the firefighters have said the rush to vaccinate was unfair and did not give their members enough time to make the decision.

Of the 350 units within the FDNY, 18 were closed Monday due to staffing shortages.

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"There are no firehouses closed," FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said. "The fire department has 350 units so let's take that into perspective. If we went back a month on any given day we might find 18 units out of service for training, for maintenance, for repairs of apparatus and such. But in our contingency plan, we ended all of that so we would have more availability."

The fire department vaccination rate among the fire-fighting side of the department was 77% up from 58% while 88% of emergency management personnel were vaccinated up from 61%. 

2,300 firefighters call out sick

A staffing shortage remains a concern as 2,300 firefighters called out sick Monday on the day the COVID vaccine mandate would be enforced.

1,700 NYC firefighters were anticipated to be placed on unpaid leave, said the United Firefighters Association.

The fire department said it was prepared to close up to 20% of its fire companies and have 20% fewer ambulances in service while also changing schedules, canceling vacations and turning to outside EMS providers to make up for expected staffing shortages.

REPORT: 9,000 NYC workers on unpaid leave after refusing COVID vaccine: de Blasio

Union says firefighters told to stay at work

Andrew Ansbro, President, FDNY- Uniformed Firefighters Association, told Good Day New York that at 6 a.m., an announcement was made telling firefighters to remain in their firehouses regardless of vaccination status.