Health & Fitness

Judge Temporarily Suspends Vaccine Order For Health Care Workers

Two nurses at Syosset Hospital, including a woman from Seaford, filed a lawsuit saying a vaccine mandate violates their religious freedom.

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A judge issued a temporary restraining order for a vaccine mandate expected to start later this month for health care workers.
A judge issued a temporary restraining order for a vaccine mandate expected to start later this month for health care workers. (Jenna Fisher/Patch)

SYOSSET, NY — A federal judge has put on hold the state's vaccine mandate for health care workers and must allow religious exemptions.

The ruling came on Tuesday from Judge David Hurd of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York in Utica, Newsday reported.

It differs from a judge in Brooklyn who decided on Sunday not to issue a restraining order specific to the lawsuit involving Syosset Hospital nurses Diane Bono of Seaford and Michelle Melendez of Wheatley Heights.

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Hurd's temporary suspension puts in place a statewide restraining order, and overrides the previous court's ruling. He is expected to hear oral arguments on Sept. 28, Newsday reported.

The state's mandate was set to begin on Sept. 27 with at least one COVID-19 shot to stay on the job.

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