New York
New York State United Teachers supports the testing but not the vaccine mandate
By 
Editor
New York – In addition to the mandatory mask mandate for school staff, Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration is now looking into requiring vaccines with the testing.
As New York schools begin opening, the positivity rates for COVID-19 sit just above 4% for the Capital Region, Central New York, Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley and Western New York for the last 7 days.
The North Country had a 7 day average of 5.45%.
According to the President of New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), Andy Pallotta, the union supports the testing but not the vaccine mandate.
He has received over 1,400 emails for various reasons teachers don’t want the vaccine, Pallotta said.
Reasons range from breastfeeding to religion.
In case Hochul administration enforcess a vaccine mandate, Pallotta is ready for collective bargaining.
