” New Jersey’s Governor Phil Murphy Will Now Require All School Teachers & Staff Along With All State Employees To Be Fully Vaccinated By October 18, 2021 Or Undergo Testing.”
August 24, 2021 By: Englebrook Independent News,
TRENTON, NJ.- Just hours after The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted full approval to Pfizer BioNTech Comirnaty Covid-19 Vaccine, New Jersey’s Governor Phil Murphy institutes vaccine mandates.
New Jersey will require all school employees to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus by October 18, 2021, or be subjected to weekly testing, Murphy announced on Monday just hours after The FDA granted full approval for Pfizer’s Comirnaty Vaccine. Governor Murphy will become the fourth Governor Nationwide to institute vaccine mandates for school staff.
The Executive Order signed on Monday by Murphy will also require all State employees be fully vaccinated by October 18, 2021 or be subjected to weekly testing, at a minimum of twice a week.
State employees in Healthcare and Correctional Facilities are already subject to the vaccination or testing requirements under prior Executive Order 252. Murphy’s announcement on Monday will now extend the scope to include all employees of State Agencies, Authorities, Colleges, and Universities.
The Murphy Administration will work with impacted Agencies and Authorities, as well as Union Partners over the coming weeks to implement the new requirement.
Murphy’s Monday Order also clarifies that individuals seeking a medical exemption from mask wearing, pursuant to exceptions outlined in Executive Order 251 for all Public, Private, and Parochial Preschool Programs, Elementary and Secondary Schools, including Charter and Renaissance Schools, will now be required to provide written documentation from a Doctor or Medical Professional to support that exemption. Attestations from individuals or parents will not be sufficient.
Yesterday’s mandate comes as millions of New Jersey students are preparing to return to the classroom in the next couple of weeks, even as the highly transmissible Delta Variant continues to spread throughout the state. The State is requiring all schools to operate fully in person in the 2021-2022 School Year, despite some families requesting a optout remote learning option.
Murphy’s order has the crucial backing of the states largest teachers union, which in the past signaled that it would support a vaccination or testing mandate for its members.
In Newark, New Jersey’s largest School District, the teachers union told its members earlier this month to prepare for a vaccine requirement. Union officials said that members would be required to cover the copay costs for weekly testing if they declined to get vaccinated.
As of yesterday, less than one third of Newark Public Schools employees have provided proof of Covid-19 vaccinations.
Monday’s FDA approval for Pfizer’s Comirnaty Covid-19 Vaccine will give assurance to the vaccine hesitancy of many in New Jersey, some might wonder if Murphy’s Vaccine Mandate was premature.
As all New Jersey students will return to school no later than September 14, 2021, why would Murphy institute a vaccine mandate effective October 18, 2021, rather than September 18, 2021, this could potentially cause the closure of schools once again.
As for the vaccine mandate for State Employees, just about all State Government Office throughout still remain closed to the public.
Although everyone needs to be vaccinated, the decision should be between the individual and their health provider, and not be forced into getting vaccinated. If Murphy truly wants the best for everyone in New Jersey then he should institute the Executive Order Effective immediately, before schools return to in person learning.
