DENVER — The city of Denver has directed its employees to get the COVID-19 vaccination, and the city’s public safety manager said disciplinary action will be taken against anyone who doesn’t meet the mayor’s September deadline.
Now, the Denver Police Protective Association is pushing back against the mayor’s vaccine mandate. In a statement published by Denverite, the union said that its members “can be trusted” to make the personal decision themselves.
“As to the Mayor’s current health order, the Denver Police Protective Association respects and trusts our members with their own choices on how to maintain their health, the health of their families, and the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Denver in a profession that exposes them on a daily basis to violent criminals, as well as multiple contagious and infectious diseases prevalent in our community,” the Denver Police Protective Association wrote.
Disciplinary action
Regardless, city officials are willing to “take disciplinary action” over such refusals, Post Millennial reported.
Denver Public Safety Manager Murphy Robinson said, “If you want to work in the City and County of Denver, you will get vaccinated. Public health law is law and so if my personnel decide not to do so, it is a conscious decision and I will take disciplinary action.”
Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs
Meanwhile, the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs (ALADS) is also pushing back against a new executive order, which mandates employees provide proof of full vaccination against coronavirus, Law Officer reported.
The labor union that represents more than 7,000 Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies released a statement on Thursday saying they would challenge their directive.
“ALADS saw Supervisor (Hilda) Solis’ tweet last night notifying 110,000 county employees that they will be required to receive a COVID-19,” the union said in the statement. “Supervisor Solis’ announcement via Twitter was a prime example of the lack of professionalism we have come to expect from her office.”
FDA approval remains absent
A fact that remains under-reported is that vaccines are still being administered for emergency use, but have not been approved by the FDA, according to an advisement from Moderna.
The Pfizer vaccine has so far been distributed under FDA emergency-use authorization it received in December. The company applied for full approval on May 7, but it has yet to be approved, National Review reported.
FDA spokesperson Abby Capobianco said the agency is working on “identifying additional resources such as personnel and technological resources from across the agency and opportunities to reprioritize other activities, in order to complete our review to help combat this pandemic surge.”
As negative stories persist, people are hesitant, particularly when untrustworthy government leaders are mandating the vaccine.
“We recognize that for some, the FDA approval of Covid-19 vaccines may bring additional confidence and encourage them to get vaccinated,” Capobianco said in a statement. “FDA staff will conduct a thorough review process, while balancing the incredible sense of urgency necessary, both of which are needed to ensure that any vaccine that is authorized or approved meets our rigorous standards for safety, effectiveness, and quality.”
