As of November 1, New York City will no longer require COVID-19 vaccination for employees working in the private sector. According to Pix 11, Mayor Eric Adams renounced the vaccination requirement in September; however, individual businesses were free to continue requiring vaccination.
Due to the high vaccination rate in the five boroughs, the city Board of Health decided to remove the mandate last week. The agency claims that approximately 90% of New Yorkers have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Vaccinations are still reportedly mandatory for the 300,000 city employees. Earlier this year, more than 1,400 municipal workers were laid off for defying the order.
In October, a Staten Island judge ruled that city workers fired for not receiving the vaccine should be reinstated and given back pay. However, The city is appealing the ruling.
Former Mayor Bill de Blasio established the initial vaccine mandate before leaving office. The announcement of the end of the vaccine mandate for private sector employees comes exactly one week before the midterm elections.
