More than 9,000 NYC workers placed on unpaid leave for defying vaccine mandate

More than 9,000 New York City employees were placed on unpaid administrative leave Monday for refusing to comply with Mayor Bill de Blasio's vaccine mandate.

According to The Hill, city workers had until Friday to receive at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or face potential termination. 

City employees previously were able to test weekly as an alternative to vaccination, however, that option is no longer available.

Mayor de Blasio confirmed Monday that over 91% of municipal workers have been vaccinated, with over 12,000 receiving medical exemptions and 9,000 being placed on unpaid leave.

"This mandate was the right thing to do and the proof is in the pudding. We now see it works," de Blasio said during a press conference. 

"A profound thanks to all of our city employees who did the right thing, and to everyone who will do the right thing going forward," he continued.

In response to the mayor's mandate, thousands of workers participated in a scheduled protest last week, while nearly 2,000 first responders took medical leave causing some to suspect a larger "sickout" could occur in the future.