Mayor de Blasio Issues Vaccine Mandate for Private-Sector Employers: Set to Go into Effect on Dec. 27

By Yehudit Garmaise

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced this morning that on Dec. 27, a COVID vaccine mandate for all New York City private-sector employers will go into effect.

The mayor explained that the city is under attack right now from the coronavirus, and the Omicron variant, which has now been detected in 17 states, poses an additional risk to the health of New Yorkers.

In fact, many scientists have said while people who have had COVID do have some measure of protection against reinfection with the virus, antibodies from previous infections with COVID do not protect against Omicron.

“We’ve got the colder weather, which is going to really create additional challenges with the Delta variant, we’ve got holiday gatherings,” said Mayor De Blasio, who emphasized that the city must now “focus on maximizing vaccination quickly.” “We have decided to use a preemptive strike to really do something bold to stop the further growth of COVID and the dangers it’s causing to all of us. 

The mayor said that City Hall is “going to work with the business community,” which is comprised of 200,000 businesses that are not subject to any vaccine mandates.

The mayor said that expects the same cooperation from private-sector businesses that he has seen from restaurants, indoor entertainment, and indoor fitness centers, which will now be required to check for proof of customers who are 12 and up that they received not just their first, but both of their shots. 

"People have to get their second shots," the mayor said. "That is what is going to give you that extra protection."

“New York City will not give a single inch in the fight against COVID-19,” the mayor said. “Vaccination is the way out of this pandemic, and these are bold, first-in-the-nation measures to encourage New Yorkers to keep themselves and their communities safe.”

Mayor de Blasio also announced that on Dec. 14, children ages 5 to 11 will also now be required to show proof of vaccination to be admitted to indoor dining, entertainment venues, and fitness centers.

When speaking about how his mandates have been received in the city, the mayor said, “We actually got a lot of cooperation. 

“There were a few times where we had to penalize people, but it was rare. 

“So, we are going to put together the rules, and work with the business community.”

The mayor encouraged all American mayors, governors, CEOs to use vaccine mandates.

“The more universal [the mandates] are, the more likely employees will say, ‘Okay, it’s time, I’m going to do this,’” the mayor said. “From workplace mandates, to $100 incentives, to mobile and at-home vaccination offerings, no place in the nation has done more to end the COVID era. 

“If you have not taken this step yet: there’s no better day than today to stand up for your city."

Kathyrn Wylde, the president of Partnership for New York City, a non-profit group that is the city's leading business organization, however, told a New York Times reporter this morning that the business community was "blindsided.:

"There was no forewarning, no discussion, no idea about whether it is legal, and who he expects to enforce it," Wylde said.

However, Dave Chokshi, MD, the city's health commissioner emphasized, "We have to be even more relentless than the virus."

The mayor agreed: "We can't let COVID back in the door."

Photographer/Mayoral Photography Office