Trevor Noah explains why it's so weird for cops and firefighters to freak out about vaccine mandates

For the past few months, vaccine mandates have "become the biggest fight in the country — I mean, aside from the Netflix CEO and everyone on Twitter," Trevor Noah said on Wednesday's Daily Show. "And mandates have been effective at convincing people to get the COVID vaccine, which is why everyone from the federal government to airlines to even Fox News is doing one." The Fox News mandate is "insane," he added. "It's like seeing one of those Amish farm stands that accepts Apple Pay — like, I'm happy, but I did not see that coming."
Now, New York City is requiring all of its employees to get vaccinated, including cops and firefighters. About a third of NYPD officers aren't vaccinated, and that's "a little concerning," Noah said, "because any police who don't get vaccinated can't go to work, and if there's a shortage of police, that could cause some big problems. I mean, protesters can't kick the s--t out of themselves. Plus, who are the Karens gonna call when they get scared?"
But police and firefighters have been among the most resistant to vaccine mandates in cities and states that have them, and honestly they're "the last people I'd expect to see this from," Noah said. "These are the same people who sign up to swarm hostage situations or run into burning buildings. But when it comes to the vaccine, suddenly they're like, 'I dunno, seems like a health risk.'"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Here's what I find most strange about this story: For years, police departments have been telling us that nothing is more important than protecting the lives of cops on the streets," Noah said. "But it turns out there is literally nothing more dangerous to police officers right now than COVID-19. COVID, right now, as we speak, is the leading cause of death for law enforcement. In fact, since the start of the pandemic, it has killed more than five times the number of police than were killed by guns. So it turns out that if you do believe that 'Blue Lives Matter,' one of the best ways to show your support is by getting the vaccine."
In a confluence of life and art, this is essentially the same discussion Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy had with White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Tuesday.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
July 11 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Friday's political cartoons include Donald Trump and English lessons for Liberia, the MAGA weather forecast, Pete Hegseth, and the incredible disappearing Epstein files.
-
Quiz of The Week: 5 – 11 July
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
-
How many people are working illegally in the UK?
The Explainer Government vows 'nationwide blitz' on illicit workforce believed to number in the hundreds of thousands
-
Trump U-turns on weapons to Ukraine
Speed Read Unhappy with Putin, Trump decides the US will go back to arming Ukraine against Russia's attacks
-
Ukraine scrambles as Trump cuts weapons deliveries
Speed Read The halting of weapons shipments was driven by Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, a Ukraine funding skeptic
-
IAEA: Iran could enrich uranium 'within months'
Speed Read The chief United Nations nuclear inspector, Rafael Grossi, says Iran could be enriching uranium again soon
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
Iran nukes program set back months, early intel suggests
Speed Read A Pentagon assessment says US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites only set the program back by months, not years. This contradicts President Donald Trump's claim.
-
Trump says Iran and Israel agreed to ceasefire
Speed Read This followed a night of Israeli airstrikes on Tehran and multiple waves of missiles fired by Iran
-
Israel strikes Iran, killing military and nuclear chiefs
Speed Read Israeli officials said the attack was a 'preemptive' strike on Iran's nuclear program
-
Israel deports Thunberg after seizing Gaza aid boat
speed read The Swedish activist was delivering food and medical aid to Palestine, highlighting the growing humanitarian crisis there