On Monday, December 6, 2021, New York City (NYC) Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city was extending its coronavirus vaccine mandate to the private sector, making NYC the first city in the nation to do so. This mandate comes amid a rapid increase in daily cases: the city’s 7-day daily average has increased to 1,551 confirmed cases, even as the national 7-day average has fallen 8.5% compared to the week prior. The mayor said the directive is a “preemptive strike” against a possible winter wave of coronavirus cases and the newly discovered Omicron variant. The mayor’s announcement comes as federal courts have temporarily blocked President Biden’s mandate. The NYC mandate will take effect on December 27.
The City of New York already requires healthcare workers, city employees, and school employees (including religious and private schools) to get vaccinated against Covid-19. Additionally, city mandates require at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine to enter restaurants, entertainment facilities, and fitness centers. According to the mayor’s office, 89% of adults have received at least one shot of a vaccine. The new mandate will require two doses for New Yorkers over 12 and one dose for children ages 5-11. It will apply to roughly 184,000 businesses.
The city’s mandate does not offer the 3.7 million private-sector workers the option to refuse vaccination in favor of regular Covid-19 testing, but they can apply for religious or medical exemptions. Mayor de Blasio’s term ends next month when the city swears in Mayor-elect Eric Adams, who has not committed to enforcing the new mandate. Mayor de Blasio has expressed some interest in running for the Democratic nomination for the 2022 gubernatorial race in New York and has sought to brand himself as a national leader in the fight against Covid-19.
New York City is implementing one of the most aggressive steps in the fight against Covid-19. Researchers have widely proved both the safeness and effectiveness of the coronavirus vaccines. We should pursue all avenues to encourage unvaccinated Americans to get their shots as soon as possible. By ensuring that all private-sector employees are vaccinated, America’s most populous city is working to provide safe working environments in all of NYC and increasing protection against Covid-19 and any emerging waves or variants.
This rule is a Covid overreaction in direct contrast to scientific evidence. Children between 5 and 11 are being vaccinated against a disease that poses little to no physical risk to them. There are no avenues to refuse the vaccine outright, and de Blasio is threatening families’ livelihoods over a Covid variant deemed “mild” by those who discovered it. Medical procedures should be a decision based on your risk assessment, not de Blasio’s assessment of actions that help his election chances.
