Democrat lawmakers in Trenton reject bill that would exempt public workers from vaccine mandate

Robert Walker

TRENTON, NJ – With Governor Phil Murphy declaring the COVID-19 pandemic in its waning days and quickly heading into endemic territory, outnumbered Republicans in the state legislature hoped Democrats would sign on to their bill to end the public worker vaccine mandate in New Jersey.

On Monday, Assemblywoman Beth Sawyer moved to force an Assembly vote today on her bill prohibiting discrimination against corrections officers, first responders and health care workers who have declined the Covid-19 vaccines and boosters.

According to Murphy’s Law, fully vaccinated health care workers have to show proof of a booster shot no later than Feb. 28 under Gov. Phil Murphy’s vaccination.

Last week, Murphy issued a short grace period on the anticipated firings after the CDC extended the period of time required between first and second doses of the mRNA vaccines. Murphy also stated clearly that this delay will not stop the inevitable terminations of the unvaccinated workers.


“I want everyone to think about this. In 2020, our first responders were heroes. They went to work every day without complaining, putting their lives on the line to fight a virus knowing that it could be either life or death. Now Governor Murphy is forcing vaccination mandates on them. This is not right. It’s unfair and it’s unconstitutional,” Sawyer said.

On Jan. 19, Murphy signed an executive order requiring health care workers and those working in high-risk congregate settings, like prisons, to receive their primary series of a Covid-19 vaccination and a booster shot or face termination. The order also removed the alternative testing option. Corrections officers have until March 30 to show proof of compliance, Sawyer said.

“People should have a choice,” Sawyer continued. “Enforcing this mandate will also lead to substantial staffing issues in our already overstressed health care system and prisons.”

According to reports, more than 40% of nursing home workers had not gotten their booster. Fewer than half of the state’s prison employees, a scant 43%, have been vaccinated.

A statement released by Sawyer said, on Monday, New Jersey recorded 685 confirmed positive Covid-19 tests and 13 new deaths. The state’s seven-day average for confirmed cases is 1,080, down 30% from a week ago and 85% from a month ago. Those figures matched up to the state’s COVID-19 dashboard figures.

As of Monday, all counties in New Jersey have either low or medium community levels of the coronavirus under new federal guidelines.

“When the latest data clearly shows the threat is diminishing daily, we should not be increasing the mandates on our citizens,” Sawyer said.

Democrats tabled her bill by a 42-33 vote.

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