NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- With expanding vaccine mandates possibly on the horizon, the New York City Police Benevolent Association has preeminently pushed back.
PBA President Patrick Lynch said in a statement Wednesday, “In the PBA’s view, the COVID-19 vaccine is a medical decision that members must make in consultation with their own healthcare providers.”
“We have pushed to make the vaccine available to all members who seek it, and we will continue to protect the rights of members who are not vaccinated,” Lynch continued. “That position has not changed, and neither the city nor the NYPD has advised us of any changes to the current vaccination policy.”
The NYPD workforce vaccination rate is at 68%, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said Wednesday.
Shea has continuously shown support for a vaccine mandate for his department Wednesday.
“I think it was cleaner to do one, from 30,000 feet, one broad affecting all. One thing I didn't want to do is put one policy for the Police Department and then that's counter to other agencies,” said Shea. “So, I would be supportive of a vaccine mandate.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio on Wednesday said nothing has been finalized and is still exploring options around mandates for the NYPD, FDNY and other agencies — despite success in court for the Department of Education mandate.
“I do believe you sequence things in different ways and there's still issues that we have to understand better and resolve,” said de Blasio. “So, it's not always a matter of, you know, just push a button. You have to get things right. So, we're looking at it right now, we're looking at different options, other types of things we can do, and we'll have more to say in the coming days.”
De Blasio also said it was important to “respect people's intelligence” along the mandate process.
75.6% of city adults are currently fully vaccinated, according to NYC data.
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