New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) lashed out at anti-vaccine hecklers during a news conference in Union City on Wednesday.
Murphy slammed a small group protesting mandatory inoculations as “the ultimate knuckleheads.” They were carrying signs that read “No forced injections” and “My body, my choice,” reported NorthJersey.com.
“These folks back there have lost their minds,” said Murphy, who urged people to get vaccinated during his announcement of the state’s extension of its eviction moratorium.
“You are the ultimate knuckleheads and because of what you are saying and standing for, people are losing their life,” the governor continued. “People are losing their life, and you have to know that. Look in the mirror. Look in the mirror.”
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As the highly transmissible delta variant of the coronavirus continues to spread, particularly among the unvaccinated, and vaccination rates slow, Murphy this week mandated vaccines for workers in hospitals and long-term health care facilities.
“While reaching our statewide vaccination goal has so far dampened the impact of the delta variant in New Jersey, some of our most vulnerable populations remain at risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19 primarily due to exposure to unvaccinated individuals,” the governor said in a statement.
“We are taking this step today because it has been proven time and time again that vaccines save lives and are our way out of this pandemic,” Murphy added.