New York City Lifts COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Private Businesses

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is encouraging private businesses to put in place their own vaccine policies after making the private sector vaccine mandate optional.

The city has also now made vaccines optional for students who participate in extracurricular activities including New York City’s Public School Athletic League (PSAL).

City officials are urging private employers to enforce their own vaccine mandates, as the city will continue implementation of the city worker vaccination mandate for its own employees.

At the same time, Adams and city official are encouraging residents to get vaccinated and new booster shots.

“While we continue to adapt to the virus with these changes to vaccine mandates for private-sector employees and students participating in sports and extracurricular activities, we must continue doing our part to protect ourselves and our loved ones,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “The best way we can do that is to get vaccinated and get boosted.”

“The mayor’s decision to allow individual employers to determine COVID-19 protocols is most welcome,” said Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO, Partnership for New York City. “It will accelerate return to the office and encourage New Yorkers to move beyond the pandemic mentality.”

The private sector mandate was introduced by outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio at the end of last year. He set a Dec. 27 deadline for about 184,000 businesses to require workers to show proof of having received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Businesses faced potential fines of at least $1,000 for noncompliance.

The former mayor also established the policy that 5-11-year-old children be required to get vaccinated to participate in sports, band, orchestra, dance and other extracurricular school activities.

Topics New York COVID-19