The COVID-19 vaccine mandate goes into effect Monday

New York – The mandate for getting the first dose is Monday, and many healthcare workers still haven’t gotten it.

According to Attorney at Leeds Brown Law, Rick Ostrove, it’s up to the employer to handle an employee’s refusal, but the state will take action against the employer if it isn’t handled.

Governor Kathy Hochul says she is unaware of any religion that allows the exemption. She is standing firm on her decision to not allow religious exemptions. There were never any exemptions for rubella or measles and that this mandate is no different, she said.

Catholicism cites the use of fetal cell lines as a reason to not take a vaccine, but that religion has spoken in favor of the vaccine. Daily medicines like Benadryl and Tums use fetal cell lines as well.

According to local hospitals, their vaccination rates have started to pick up.

The mandate says if an employee is not vaccinated by Monday and does not have a valid medical or religious exemption, will be fired.