New York City police and firefighters told to get vaccinated or be put on leave

Of the workers affected by the new mandate, 71% have already received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the city

New York City police officers have been told to get vaccinated against Covid or face being put on unpaid leave. Picture: AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

New York City will require police officers, firefighters and other municipal workers to be vaccinated against Covid-19 or be placed on unpaid leave, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday, giving an ultimatum to public employees who’ve refused and ensuring a fight with some of the unions representing them.

The mandate affecting the nation’s largest police department and more than 100,000 other Big Apple workers, including refuse workers and building inspectors, carries a November 1 deadline for getting the first vaccine dose, De Blasio announced.