(Bloomberg) -- A state judge temporarily blocked New York City’s Covid vaccine requirement of municipal workers for a Police Department detective who sued the city.

In a hearing Tuesday, State Supreme Court Justice Frank Nervo granted a temporary restraining order requested by Detective Anthony Marciano, who sued Mayor Bill de Blasio on Dec. 1 on behalf of himself and others “similarly situated.”  

But it wasn’t immediately clear whether the order extended beyond Marciano himself. A lawyer for the city asked Nervo to clarify. The judge declined. 

In his lawsuit, Marciano said the available Covid-19 vaccines have been authorized only for emergency use and are “unapproved, investigational and experimental.” He argued the mandate violates his right to informed consent and that the city’s Health Department lacked the authority to issue the rule.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is fully approved for ages 16 and up. Large clinical trials have shown all the approved vaccines to be safe and effective.

Earlier Tuesday, a federal judge declined to block New York City’s requirement that teachers and other school employees be vaccinated against Covid-19 or face suspension. The lawsuits are part of a wave of litigation across the country over the legality of vaccination mandates by governments and private employers struggling to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The case is Marciano v. De Blasio, 160914/2021, New York State Supreme Court, New York County (Manhattan).

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