Vaccine Mandate for City Workers Draws Student Support

Midwood’s hallway during passing between classes. Most students we interviewed approved of the vaccine mandate. Photo: Ashley Rayford

By ASHLEY RAYFORD with contributions by Yun Hao Dong

Fresh notebooks, pencils sharpened to perfection, and a TI-84 calculator primed with fresh batteries: all things we've come to expect of a new school year. But something else needed to be added to the school bags of New York City teachers this September — a vaccination card.

This school year, the Covid-19 vaccine was mandated for all New York City teachers by October 4, following a decision by Mayor Bill de Blasio. If teachers refused, they risked losing their jobs or taking an extended unpaid leave. A similar mandate went into effect in Los Angeles on October 15. This begs the question: Is it fair to mandate vaccines for teachers?

“Teachers are interacting with hundreds of students a day and they can be a catalyst for an outbreak just like everyone else,” said senior Lisa Farley. “If you don’t want to take it, then don’t come to school and put others at risk. Simple.”

Farley isn't alone in her opinion. In a survey of 40 Midwood students, 73% said they thought it was fair that teacher vaccination was required, though most would permit exemptions for medical or religious reasons. The other 27% thought the mandate was unethical.

“It's unfair that teachers need years of debt and education just to get fired for this decision,“ said Laura Yusupova ‘22.

But with all of this happening, many students are wondering if they’re next. In our small sample, 75 percent of students were vaccinated, though the majority of the unvaccinated were open to getting the shot in the future. Those who are apprehensive said they worry about the potential long term side effects.

“I won't get the vaccine unless I absolutely need it,” said a senior who preferred to remain anonymous. “It's a pretty novel vaccine. It's not like I'm anti-vax or anything or think that there's microchips in the vaccine. It's more that I feel that the immediate benefit does not justify the possible unknown long term health risks.”

Next up on the potential chopping block are other government employees like the city’s firefighters, EMTs, police officers, and sanitation workers, all of whom are now required to get the vaccine by a mandate that went into effect on November 1. Many protested, and thousands of firefighters went on unpaid leave. Some sanitation workers deliberately slowed down their trash pick up, reports would suggest, though the workers’ union denied it.

Among the workers’ arguments against getting the vaccine were that they had natural immunity (studies show that surviving Covid grants immunity at least as strong as vaccination), they were concerned about the vaccine’s long-term effects, they had religious objections, or they believed in having freedom of choice over their bodies and medical decisions.

Still, most of the students we spoke with supported the mandates for these city workers, though there was some concern about losing essential workers who refused the vaccine.

Egor Litke '22 agreed with a vaccine mandate for police officers and firefighters. “However,” he said, “you may run into the risk of a worker shortage if too many refuse to get vaccinated and quit. Firing firefighters and police officers with years of experience is never a good idea.”

Litke was one of several members of Midwood’s Tea Club who shared their views with our reporters. Most were in favor of the mandate.

"Police officers’ and firefighters’ primary job is to keep the public safe,” said Sonia Rosa '24. “How could they keep the public safe if they put us at risk due to them not being vaccinated?"

"Their actions and decisions while in the uniform, and sometimes outside of it, represent the city,” said senior Raymond Alston, Jr. “To show them getting vaccinated could be the final push to convince those who are unsure they should be vaccinated.”

Next up: Will the approval of the Pfizer vaccine for the 5-11 age group and boosters for adults lead to more mandates and more protests? The debate isn’t over yet.