Judge extends hold on mandated vaccines for medical workers for religious exemptions
Matt Mulcahy Sept 21, 2021
A U.S. District Court Judge extended the hold on New York State mandating Covid vaccines for healthcare workers who have raised religious exemptions. Judge David Hurd extended his temporary restraining order to October 12th. He also cancelled a scheduled in-person hearing that had been set for Tuesday, September 28th. That is the day after New York State's vaccine order takes effect for hospital and nursing home workers. Instead, the U.S. District Court in Utica will accept written arguments on which the judge will base his decision no later than October 12th.
Judge Hurd is being asked to grant a restraining order against New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Health Commissioner Howard Zucker and Attorney General Letitia James. Plaintiffs, represented by religious based organization the Thomas More Society, claimed the vaccine mandate violates their rights because it does not allow for religious exemptions. A prior order from the state did make such an allowance and several hospitals had begun to grant them for employees.
This order from the court does not invalidate New York States vaccine mandate for hospital and nursing home workers who have not requested a religious exemption. Hospitals in the Syracuse area have stated ten to twenty percent of their workforce remains unvaccinated as the state deadline approaches. Some employees have resigned over the mandate. Others have been told they will be terminated as if they have resigned if they do not comply with the state mandate.
The court's initial granted of a Temporary Restraining Order came on September 14th.