Vaccine Mandate Nixed For East Brunswick Employees

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — East Brunswick has retracted its vaccination requirement for municipal employees, Mayor Brad Cohen announced.

Cohen cited changes in the science and CDC guidance that show the risk of being exposed to COVID-19's Delta variant was equivalent when it comes to vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.

“Science, as we are all learning, is a constantly changing thing,” Cohen said during Monday’s council meeting.

“At the end of the day, we need to make the right decisions and the ground on which we are standing is constantly changing. As a result, we need to adapt as we learn more.” (To check CDC guidance, click here).

Under the now-rescinded policy, employees had until Sep. 30 to provide proof of vaccination to the municipality's HR department, failing which they would be considered “non-compliant.” The township had made COVID-19 vaccinations a “condition of employment” for all East Brunswick workers.

Read More Here: East Brunswick Requiring All Town Employees To Get COVID Vaccine

During Monday’s meeting, the Mayor informed the township that they were retracting the requirement as it has been proven that the vaccinated and unvaccinated can be carriers of the virus which is unique to the Delta variant.

A physician, Cohen said what he does know for certain is that unvaccinated individuals “don’t do as well” when they contract the virus. These individuals are at a greater risk of “hospitalization, use of ventilators and death.”

About the policy, Cohen said, “It’s an open thing and we’ll have to constantly look at it.” He said the policy was “overwhelmingly favoring” the fact that data at that point showed that unvaccinated people were “carrying much larger viral loads” and were putting the rest of the public at risk.

Going forward, Cohen said he will continue to look at the science to guide his decisions to help protect township employees and residents. “Acting in the interest of safety has always been my top priority.”

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