NYC expands indoor COVID vaccine mandate to cover kids ages 5-11
Mayor de Blasio announced Monday that he’s expanding the city’s indoor coronavirus vaccination mandate to include kids ages 5-11 amid concern about an uptick in infections among the youngsters.
Starting Dec. 14, the 5- through 11-year-olds will need to show proof of at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine to participate in indoor activities covered by the so-called “Key to NYC” program — including dining, entertainment and fitness, de Blasio said in a briefing at City Hall.
In addition, de Blasio said the young New Yorkers will need to show proof of at least one shot by Dec. 14 to enjoy extracurricular after-school activities, such as sports, band, orchestra and dance.
“This is something that’s going to keep kids safe and families safe,” de Blasio said. “As long as they’ve gotten that first dose by Dec. 14, they can continue to participate in indoor dining, entertainment, all these great things.”
New Yorkers 12 and older have for months been covered by the “Key to NYC” requirement for at least one dose of vaccine.
But in another tweak to the program, de Blasio said those older than 12 will have to show proof of at least two doses of vaccine to enjoy indoor activities starting Dec. 27.
“Get that second dose because that’s what gives you so much more protection,” the mayor said.
While children ages 5-11 typically do not suffer severe symptoms from COVID-19, public health experts say it’s incumbent on them to get vaccinated to stop the virus from spreading to other, more vulnerable age groups.
Federal health agencies authorized coronavirus vaccines for 5 through 11-year-olds in October.
Still, only 19% of kids ages 5-11 in the five boroughs have gotten their shots, making it by far the least-vaccinated age group, according to Health Department data.
At the same time, the city’s COVID-19 infection rates are “currently highest among our 5- to 11-year-olds,” said Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi.
“But we can change this,” he said, adding that Monday’s vaccine mandate expansion is “a logical step to protect our kids.”
Hizzoner said the city will enforce the new 5-11 rule with the “exact same approach” it has been using for other age groups, requiring restaurants and other establishments to screen patrons for their physical vaccination cards or copies of them scanned into an available smartphone app.
Mitch Schwartz, a City Hall spokesman, also said the city is updating its “COVID Safe App” to allow parents to store their children’s vaccination cards.
But it was not immediately clear how establishments subject to the “Key to NYC” rules are supposed to ascertain whether a child is younger than 5.
Kids that young rarely carry identification, and some parents in the city said that’s one reason why the mayor’s latest vaccine requirement is too strict.
Carly Maready, of Manhattan, who has three elementary school-aged children, said, “75% of NYC parents are not yet comfortable vaccinating their children. It was wrong for the mayor to short-circuit these discussions between parents and pediatricians by barring families from access to public life in the city.”
