Putnam Legislature Opposes COVID-19 Vax-or-Test Business Mandate

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY —The Putnam County Legislature passed a resolution opposing all government COVID-19 vaccine mandates by a vote of 8-1 Wednesday.

Lawmakers said vaccinations should be a matter of personal choice, not public health.

The resolution was promoted by Legislator Toni Addonizio of Kent and advanced by the Health Committee, whose members said Dec. 13 that they were "pro-choice" and that vaccine mandates were totalitarian, the Highlands Courant reported.

Christopher Harrigan, head of Putnam County-Stop the Mandates, told Patch earlier in December that his group was particularly opposed to bills before state legislators in Albany. SEE: Putnam Lawmaker Opposes Vaccine Mandates: Town Hall

Putnam's coronavirus cases have surged since the first week in November. The county's coronavirus dashboard reported 768 active cases as of Dec. 23, up from 365 active cases on Dec. 15.

New York State's coronavirus dashboard showed the county's current surge of the highly contagious coronavirus surpassing last winter's, which peaked Jan. 10.

The resolution cites an out-of-date court decision temporarily halting OSHA's Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard. After the stay was lifted Dec. 17, OSHA said employers with more than 100 workers must begin testing unvaccinated employees on or before Feb. 9.

Legislator Nancy Montgomery, who was the only "no" vote, told Patch that most of the letters from supporters of the resolution opposed all vaccines — including government-mandated shots for children entering public school for diseases such as measles and diptheria.

She also expressed concern that her colleagues don't think the nurses and doctors who are taking care of their constituents' sick friends and family members should have to be vaccinated or masked.

"I’ve worked in the health care field and had to get all kind of shots and tests just to protect myself and the vulnerable populations I work with," she said.

Montgomery told Patch that legislative leaders have also repeatedly denied her requests that her colleagues, staff and audience members wear masks during meetings, or that the legislature offer an option to attend meetings virtually.

Although New York state requires people to wear masks indoors in public spaces, on the Putnam County website local health officials recommend only that people who are not vaccinated "wear a face covering when going out." They do add that "the CDC recommends all individuals wear masks indoors when in places where there is substantial to high levels of community transmission."