Suit challenges New Mexico orders on COVID-19 vaccinations

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A newly-filed lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of recent public health orders requiring people with certain jobs to get COVID-19 vaccinations and restricting admittance to the state fair.

The lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court asks a judge to block enforcement of an order requiring health workers, teachers and certain other workers to get vaccinated. A separate order that the suit seeks to block requires anyone attending the New Mexico State Fair to be fully vaccinated.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says state actions to protect the public’s health and safety have been repeatedly upheld by courts.