New York's Vaccine Mandate Should Be the Norm
Requiring proof of inoculation for certain indoor events offers the best chance of increasing vaccine uptake and stopping the spread of the virus.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio’s “Key to NYC Pass” is the right move, and could serve as a model.
Photogrpaher: Bloomberg
New York City on Tuesday became the first large U.S. locality to announce a broad vaccine mandate. As of Aug. 16, it will start phasing in a program requiring proof of inoculation for workers and patrons at restaurants, gyms and entertainment venues, with enforcement beginning on Sept. 23, Mayor Bill de Blasio said. Whether it's called a vaccine passport or a “Key to NYC Pass,” it's the right move and a better idea than the mask mandates other cities have imposed. It should serve as a model for other regions.
The rapid spread of the delta variant means high vaccination rates are more important than ever — especially with the vast majority of severe illnesses and deaths occurring among the unvaccinated. Delta is so transmissible that experts think that 80% or more of the population may need to be vaccinated or have built up protection as a result of prior infection to reach herd immunity; previous estimates were closer to 70%. About 55% of New Yorkers are fully vaccinated, but as with the country as a whole, parts of the city are much lower.