The City of New York government has sent termination notices to more than 1,400 city government employees who have refused to adhere to the city’s coronavirus vaccine mandate, Politico reports. The city employs about 325,000 workers, meaning less than one-half of one percent did not comply with the mandate.
Of the 1,430, two were dismissed because they were new hires who had not submitted their proofs of vaccination; the rest were longer term employees who opted out of the city-run health care program and were put on unpaid leave for not getting a vaccine.
“Our goal was always to vaccinate, not terminate, and city workers stepped up and met the goal placed before them,” Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement. “Out of all the new city employees who received notices two weeks ago, only two who worked last week are no longer employed by the city. I’m grateful to all the city workers who continue to serve New Yorkers and ‘Get Stuff Done’ for the greatest city in the world.”