Judge strikes down COVID vaccine mandate for health workers

The New York State Department of Health is “exploring its options” after a state Supreme Court judge struck down a statewide mandate requiring health care workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, the Associated Press reports. Judge Gerard Neri wrote in a ruling released Jan. 13 that Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and the health department overstepped their authority by mandating a vaccine that’s not included in state public health law.