The COVID-19 vaccine mandate for city workers came to an end today.

New York City teachers, police officers, firefighters and other city workers will no longer have to provide proof of vaccination in order to work.

This comes as 96% of city employees already received the full COVID-19 vaccination. As for the 1,700 employees who were laid off because they did not get the vaccination, they have the option to apply for their jobs again.

Some say ending the mandate is only half the job. Police Benevolent Association President Patrick J. Lynch advised the city to reinstate officers who were fired and asked for backpay. While several unions, including the Uniformed Sanitationmen’s Association, say they plan on filing a lawsuit against the city to backpay workers.

News 12 reached out to the city for comment on the lawsuit from workers who want to receive back pay and they say that they’ll review the case. The city still stands by their past decision to require the vaccination mandate for city employees saying the vaccination mandate saved lives.