New York's Putnam County bucks Biden's vaccine mandates

A Republican county in New York voted on Wednesday to ban mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations, stating that medical treatment is an individual's choice and not up to the government.

Putnam County, New York, which lies around an hour north of New York City, voted 8 to 1 on Wednesday evening to block all mandatory vaccinations in the county.

The measure came in response to Biden's vaccine mandate on businesses with 100 or more employees, and in light of a recent stay issued by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals that suspended the implementation of the vaccine.

"The Putnam County Legislature believes that medical treatment and preventative measures are an individual choice and that the government has no role to play in mandating COVID-19 vaccinations," the legislation states.

In place of mandates, the legislation states that they have implemented a successful vaccination campaign for residents that want to get vaccinated.

"Every citizen who wants a COVID-1 vaccine possesses the right to obtain one, but no COVID-19 vaccine should be mandated by law," the legislation continues.

"People have the right to refuse for themselves, and parents for their children, COVID-19 vaccination based on religion or medical reasons, and every medical intervention requires informed consent and the right of refusal, including the COVID-19 vaccine," it concludes.

The motion comes a little over one week after the same county voted to oppose Gov. Kathy Hochul's mask mandate, stating they will not enforce the "unrealistic" action.

'Our Main Street businesses have followed all the rules, from recommendations and guidelines to shutdowns throughout this pandemic in order to keep the public and their customers safe and healthy," Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell said. "Now, in the midst of the holiday season, business owners are facing numerous operating issues including supply chain and hiring difficulties. We cannot expect them to implement this unrealistic order."