Kids will soon get carded at New York City restaurants and movies — for proof that they’ve been vaccinated against the coronavirus, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday.
“Vaccination works and vaccine mandates work,” de Blasio said during a remote press briefing on the latest mandate from City Hall.
De Blasio said he was taking the “very bold, aggressive action” in response to the lockdown in Germany and other restrictions returning across the globe amid the new Omicron variant — even though the city’s only seen seven cases of it and the overall COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rates here are among the lowest in the nation.
Children ages 5 to 11 must show proof of one vaccination dose to eat out, see a show, go to a movie theater, visit a fitness facility, or attend indoor entertainment venues by Dec. 14.
Kids over age 12 must have two doses by Dec. 27 unless they received the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
De Blasio first launched the “Key to NYC” vaccine mandate for adults at all public indoor venues in August.
But the new mandate also applies to many school activities. Kids over 5 must now be vaccinated to attend “high risk” extracurricular activities like band, sports, orchestra and dance in schools.
The policy earned quick criticism.
“Public health and safety is paramount, but Mayor de Blasio’s announced expansions to the Key to NYC vaccine mandate pose additional challenges for an already beleaguered restaurant industry in need of tourism support and revenues this holiday season,” said Andrew Rigie, who heads the NYC Hospitality Alliance.
“U.S. families visiting New York City for scheduled holiday vacations may not be able to meet the vaccination requirements for children or themselves in time, and children aged 5-11 across the globe aren’t universally authorized to get vaccinated.”
City Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) also blasted the new rule.
“We know de Blasio is playing a sick game of political posturing in his quixotic run for governor, but to lump kids into the mandate is a new low,” he said.
“New Yorkers need to say, ‘Enough is enough,’ but they have to say it to our new mayor. Bill’s ride into the sunset can’t come soon enough.
“We’ll see his administration in court,” Borelli vowed.
The mayor did not say whether kids will have to provide identification along with proof of vaccination as adults and teens do at most restaurants. Reps for City Hall did not immediately return requests for comment on that question.
Over 127,000 New Yorkers ages 5 to 11 are inoculated against COVID-19, or 19 percent of that age group.
“That’s good and it’s better than the national rate, but it’s not enough,” de Blasio said.
“We need to see a lot more. We need to see kids getting vaccinated in that age group,” he added.