Painful jab: Mayor De Blasio rolls out new vax mandate for businesses

On December 6, 2021, New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio, who is leaving office at the end of the year and likely running for governor in 2022, announced a first-in-the-nation COVID-19 vaccination mandate for workers and customers at indoor dining, fitness, entertainment, and performance venues. The new requirement is in addition to the proof-of-vaccination mandate already in effect for customers at dining, gym, and entertainment venues. Read on to understand how the rule will affect your business.

New requirements

What. Per Mayor De Blasio’s website, the vaccine mandate covers all private-sector New York City workers. Most public-sector workers in the city are already subject to a shot mandate. The new rule is projected to apply to roughly 184,000 businesses. In addition, it will affect child customers at many commercial venues.

When. The private-sector worker mandate starts on December 27. Per the website, the approach is being phased in for child customers who seek to enter indoor dining, fitness, entertainment, and performance venues: "The program will require children aged 5-11 to show proof of one vaccination dose for those venues. Starting December 27th, New Yorkers aged 12 and older will be required to show proof of two vaccine doses, instead of one, except for those who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine."