New York Supreme Court upholds ruling against COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health workers

The New York Supreme Court upheld a ruling that strikes down COVID-19 vaccine mandates for healthcare workers. This decision prevents New York’s governor from issuing vaccine mandates for healthcare workers in the future. Viral social media posts from those who oppose vaccine mandates are calling the ruling a “victory.”

Risk level: Medium

Recommendation: Social media users who advocate against vaccine mandates may present a narrative that vaccine mandates are motivated by authoritarianism rather than public health concerns. This may promote a reluctance to comply with public health advice in the future. While questions about vaccine mandates may not arise in a clinical setting, it is recommended doctors in New York be prepared for questions about the safety and efficacy of vaccines, which reduce the risk of COVID-19-related hospitalization, death, and long COVID.