New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is nearly out the door with Mayor-Elect Eric Adams getting ready to take over the reins. In a last-ditch effort to gain control of the COVID virus and its many variations, de Blasio has issued a vaccine mandate that will require all children, ages five to 11, as well as every private-sector employee, to get the jab before the end of December. The mayor stated:
“Our youngest kids, we got to reach them now. Right now in this city, it’s about 20% have gotten to that stage in the 5 to 11 range. The vaccine is relatively new. But what we’re trying to say to parents is it’s urgent. Before Omicron grows, before Delta continues to stress us even worse in the winter months, get your kid vaccinated. And here’s an incentive to do it.”
If kids in the Big Apple wish to participate in any sports, play in the school band, go out to eat with their parents, get exercise in a gym, or any other fun entertainment outside of the home, they must have at least one dose of the COVID vaccine by Dec. 14. Just in time for Christmas. De Blasio continued his encouragement, saying:
“A lot of parents want to take their kids out to wonderful things that'll be happening in the holiday season. Here's a reminder. Get your child vaccinated. Just one dose will immediately qualify any child to be able to participate in those activities.”
(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
By the way, this goes for children living in or just visiting the city. Forcing parents to vaccinate their children and other mandates did not work out so well for Democrats in Virginia after Republican candidate for governor Glenn Youngkin beat out Democrat Terry McAuliffe, who had said, “I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.” But then, de Blasio is on his way out, so his new mandates may not be much of political concern for him. Children 12 and older will have to show proof of at least two shots by Dec. 27 to be able to enjoy activities.
Attempting what he calls a “bold” and “first-in-the-nation” pre-emptive strike to get a handle on the pandemic, de Blasio also has required vaccinations for those working in the private sector. Employees have until Dec. 27 to be fully vaccinated. Those who do not comply will be forced into unpaid leave unless they have an approved exemption.
Currently, the city’s vaccine mandate requires only one dose for the community’s workforce, but that all changes just before the New Year. The private sector, including small businesses that may not have the resources to enforce such mandates, will also fall under the new rules. De Blasio said he understands that it will be a challenge for these employers and is working on a plan to help them achieve his goals.
Of course, all of that could change on Jan. 1, when Adams takes over. De Blasio said he has spoken with the soon-to-be mayor, who understands there are “urgent threats facing our city and it’s the mayor’s job to protect New Yorkers,” but nothing specific was mentioned.
Full-scale mandates have not been working out so well for President Joe Biden, who has been taken to court for his attempts. But de Blasio claimed what he is doing is different because it is all-encompassing, and he encouraged every lawmaker to follow his lead:
"But I'll tell you something, the fact that this is universal, and this would be my advice to mayors, governors, CEOs all over the country -- use these vaccine mandates, and the more universal they are, the more likely employees will say, okay, it's time. I'm going to do this. Because you can't jump from one industry to another or one company to another. It's something that needs to be universal to protect all of us.”
~ Read more from Kelli Ballard.
