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One-third of NYC workers still unvaccinated: Report

By FOX 5 NY Staff
Updated  September 10, 2021 5:55am EDT
New York City
FOX 5 NY

Debate continues over teachers and vaccination

There are still unanswered questions over the fate of teachers who are not vaccinated and do not have a religious or medical exemption to being vaccinated ahead of the return to in-person learning in New York City.

NEW YORK - Just 65% of city workers in New York City have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to recent data.

The number of vaccinated city workers is significantly below the number of adult New Yorkers who have received at least one dose, which currently stands at 78%, with 71% of the city's adult population currently fully vaccinated. 

The data, compiled by Gothamist, shows that less than half of workers with the Department of Sanitation, the Department of Correction, and NYCHA have been vaccinated. Only 53% of the NYPD and 57% of the FDNY have been vaccinated as well.

The most vaccinated agency in the city is the Conflicts of Interest Board, which has had 92% of its members vaccinated.

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In late July, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that all of the city's workers, including police, firefighters, and teachers must be vaccinated by September 13 or submit to weekly coronavirus tests. 

With New York City's schools are preparing to reopen on Monday, officials have said that over 700 public school buildings with students aged 12 and up will have on-site vaccinations when they reopen. According to de Blasio, 65% of 12-17-year-olds have received at least one dose of the vaccine. 

"This is about our recovery. This is about what we need to do to bring back New York City," de Blasio said. "If someone is unvaccinated, unfortunately, they pose a threat to themselves but they also have a greater chance of spreading the disease."

However, de Blasio's announcement has met pushback from some unions. 

"The position of the UFA has always been pro-vaccine but we stand firm that a non-FDA-approved vaccination is a personal choice," UFA President Andrew Ansbros said. "We still stand against any mandates to vaccinate New York City firefighters against their wills."