Vaccine mandate News and Reporting Coverage | WRAL

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Florida man dies of easily preventable diseases

Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

NC Supreme Court ruling opens path for parents to sue schools, health clinics over Covid-19 vaccines

The ruling was 5-2 along party lines, with all the Republicans in the majority and all the Democrats dissenting. Chief Justice Paul New wrote the majority opinion, with Justice Allison Riggs writing the dissent.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

Lawsuit: Rex Healthcare discriminated against employee who would not get COVID shot

Rex Healthcare is facing a lawsuit from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) over alleged discrimination after firing an employee who refused the COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds.

Fact check: Did a federal court just rule vaccine mandates unconstitutional?

After an appeals court ruled in favor of Los Angeles school employees who opposed COVID-19 vaccination mandates, independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., celebrated on social media.

Madison Czopek, PolitiFact reporter

In Depth with Dan Haggerty: Has North Carolina moved on from vaccine mandates

85% of Durham employees are currently vaccinated, so it seems the remaining 15% are paying a penalty, but why? Dan Haggerty goes in-depth on vaccine mandates and if the state has moved past them.

In Depth with Dan: Have we moved beyond vaccine mandates?

John works for the City of Durham - which, according to its website - still penalizes employees who aren't vaccinated against COVID.

Dan Haggerty, WRAL anchor/reporter

Convoy of protestors, including Proud Boys, brings COVID, other grievances to downtown Raleigh

An event billed as a truck drivers' protest against COVID restrictions drew a wide variety of voices to downtown Raleigh on Friday afternoon. Some of the participants' messages had nothing to do with the pandemic.

Bryan Mims and Keenan Willard, WRAL reporters

As Traffic Resumes on Crucial Border Crossing, Ottawa Remains Snarled

After protesters blockaded a critical economic link between the United States and Canada for nearly a week, traffic began making its way over the span again early Monday, providing some relief to Canadian authorities struggling to tame the protests and to industries disrupted by the unrest.

Dan Bilefsky and Sarah Maslin Nir, New York Times

TheWrap@NCCapitol (Feb. 4, 2022): Redistricting at the Supreme Court, vaccine mandates and campaign fundraising

In this week's edition Laura and Travis break down oral arguments in North Carolina's ongoing redistricting lawsuit. What can we expect from the state Supreme Court? And when? We speculate! Also: We get into the latest numbers from North Carolina campaigns (spoiler alert: Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson is a fundraising beast) and talk about the vaccine mandate that wasn't.​

Health experts frustrated after public pressure caused NC to reject vaccine mandate for teens

High school seniors in North Carolina will not be required to get a COVID vaccine, according to a recent desicion by the state's Commission on Public Health.

Local mom shares concerns about proposed vaccine mandate

Kelly Cook said she is a concerned mom who is against a proposal to require COVID-19 vaccines for all high school seniors.

Petition to require vaccine for 17-year-olds likely to fail

The state Commission on Public Health meets on Wednesday to consider a petition to require COVID vaccines for all 17-year-old students. Despite the signatures of about 250 UNC System faculty and staff, the petition is almost certain to fail.

NC panel rejects petition to mandate COVID-19 vaccine for high school seniors

Dozens of parents gathered outside the state Division of Public Health building on Six Forks Road Wednesday to protest a petition calling for a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all high school seniors.

Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief; Matt Talhelm, WRAL reporter

What's Next for Business After Supreme Court's Vaccine Mandate Ruling?

The Supreme Court on Thursday blocked the Biden administration from enforcing a vaccine-or-testing mandate for large employers, parts of which were set to go into effect Monday.

Lauren Hirsch, New York Times

Biden faces setbacks after Supreme Court halted mandate that required vaccines, testing in large companies

The Biden administration is trying to figure out where it goes from here, after it suffered two major setbacks. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court pumped the breaks on a mandate put into place by the administration and enforced by a federal safety agency. It required vaccinations or testing and masking in companies with more than 100 employees.

Duke extends deadline to receive COVID-19 booster shots

Duke University staff and students will have extra time to receive a COVID-19 booster shot.

Few state employees fired over Covid requirements

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety, whose guards are less vaccinated than the inmates they oversee, is offering $500 bonuses to prison workers to get their shots

By Bryan Anderson, WRAL statehouse reporter

Conservative Majority on Supreme Court Appears Skeptical of Biden’s Virus Plan

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court’s conservative majority seemed to be leaning Friday toward blocking one of the White House’s main pandemic-fighting strategies, expressing skepticism that the Biden administration has the legal power to mandate that large employers require workers to be vaccinated or to undergo frequent testing.

Adam Liptak, New York Times

'General Hospital' star fired for being unvaccinated

'General Hospital' star Steve Burton was fired for refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Vaccine mandate for Disney workers lifted

Disney has halted its policy requiring all Florida-based employees to take the COVID-19 vaccine. According to a memo sent to employees, the decision comes after new state laws were passed that limit employers' power to require vaccination.

Disney Cruise Line to require vaccine from kids 5 and up

The vaccine requirement for those passengers 5 and older takes effect on January 13th, and it's forcing some families to cancel their pre-planned trips.

Disney to require COVID-19 shots for cruise guests 5 and up

Disney Cruise Line will require all guests ages 5 and up to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before setting sail starting early next year, the company announced.

Julian Grace, WRAL anchor/reporter

Companies adapting to hiring challenges amid vaccine mandates

Some companies on Indeed.com are advertising their open positions as a "no vaccine required" job.

No vaccine required: Some companies using new tactics to fill open positions

Many employers are having to decide between a vaccine mandate or regular testing...their decision will determine their pool of candidates.

Leslie Moreno, WRAL multimedia journalist

Chicago nurses stage walkout over vaccine mandate

Some Indiana healthcare workers walked off the job Friday in protest to the vaccine mandate.