Appeals Court Temporarily Blocks COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for California Prison Workers and Inmates

An inmate at the Mule Creek State Prison sits on his bunk bed in a gymnasium that was modified to house prisoners in Ione, Calif., on Aug. 28, 2007. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all California prison workers to get vaccinated against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus unless they have a religious or medical exemption.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals approved a request for a stay, or temporary stop, of the order on Nov. 26, pending appeal. The vaccination mandate was set to go into effect on Jan. 12, but the stay blocks it from being enforced until March.