Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Supreme Court Upholds NY Vaccine Mandate For Health Care Workers
The Washington Post: Supreme Court Lets Vaccine Mandate Stand Without Religious Exemption
Over the objection of three justices, the Supreme Court on Thursday left in place New York’s coronavirus vaccine requirement for health-care workers that drew a challenge over its lack of a religious exemption. The court’s order came on the final day of its term, as the justices also announced their final decisions and what additional cases they will review when the court reconvenes in October. (Marimow and Barnes, 6/30)
In his dissent, Justice Clarence Thomas spreads misinformation about covid vaccines —
Axios: Clarence Thomas Suggests COVID Vaccines Are Created With Cells From "Aborted Children"
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas suggested Thursday in a dissenting opinion that coronavirus vaccines were developed using cells from "aborted children." ... No coronavirus vaccine in the U.S. contains the cells of aborted fetuses. (Gonzalez, 6/30)
In related news on vaccine mandates —
The New York Times: About 10 Percent Of National Guard Members Will Be In Violation Of A Federal Vaccine Mandate On Friday
At midnight on Thursday, tens of thousands of National Guard troops who have yet to prove they have been vaccinated against the coronavirus will be in violation of a direct order mandating their compliance. As a result, they will no longer be able to drill with their units until they provide proof that they have been vaccinated or have received an exemption approved by military leaders. (Ismay, Medina and Kannapell, 7/1)
AP: Guard Could Lose 600 Minnesotans After Vaccine Deadline
The Minnesota National Guard could lose hundreds of soldiers if they don’t get vaccinated against COVID-19 immediately. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported that the U.S. Department of Defense’s deadline for getting shots is Thursday. More than 95% of the Minnesota National Guard’s 13,000 members have been vaccinated but according to the percentages military officials provided that leaves more than 600 members who could face dismissal. (6/30)
Boston Herald: Massachusetts State Police Fired Over Vaccine Mandate To Lose Guns, Too
The head of the State Police has informed troopers fired for failing to get COVID shots that their permits to carry firearms will be “expired” as of next week. ... Thirteen troopers were discharged by the State Police after the height of the pandemic for failing to get a mandatory vaccine against COVID-19. It is unclear if all of the officers dismissed have received a letter, but the Herald was told that most have. (Medsger, 6/30)
WTAE: Vaccine Mandate: Pittsburgh Threatens To Fire Dozens Of Officers
The city of Pittsburgh is threatening to fire dozens of police officers who have not been vaccinated for COVID-19. The city and the police union had been negotiating this issue for months. Back in January, the police union said 40% of its officers were not vaccinated and requested religious or medical exemptions. The union filed a grievance and unfair labor practices. (6/29)
The New York Times: Why Judges Keep Recusing Themselves From A N.Y.C. Vaccine Mandate Case
It’s a routine step when someone files a lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan: The case is randomly assigned to a judge. But what happened recently in a case brought by New York City teachers and other educational workers seeking to block a coronavirus vaccine requirement has been anything but routine. Over two weeks, the teachers’ lawyers have asked three successive judges assigned to the case to recuse themselves and have it reassigned. The lawyers cited financial disclosure forms, listing each judge as owning thousands of dollars of stock in Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers, whose share price, they argued, could be helped or hurt by their rulings. (Weiser, 7/1)
