Queens Chamber of Commerce ‘concerned’ over
city’s vaccine mandate for private sector workers
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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | DEC. 17 - DEC. 23, 2021 31
businesses with implementation.
“New York City has
led the nation when it
comes to decisive action
on COVID-19,” Health
Commissioner Dr. Dave
Chokshi said. “We will
have to be more relentless
than the virus, and
I know that our vaccine
policies will save lives
and help prevent unnecessary
suffering.”
The city has administered
more than 12.5
million vaccination
doses against COVID-19.
Nearly 6.5 million New
Yorkers, including 89%
of adults, have received
at least one dose, according
to City Hall.
“New York City will
not give a single inch
in the fight against COVID
19,” de Blasio said.
“From workplace mandates,
to $100 incentives,
to mobile at-home vaccination
offerings, no
place in the nation has
done more to end the
COVID era. And if you
have not taken this step
yet: there’s no better day
than today to stand up
for your city.”
Reach reporter Bill
Parry by e-mail at
bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718)
260–4538.
BY BILL PARRY
The Queens Chamber
of Commerce is expressing
its concerns after
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced
the city’s new
vaccine mandate for
private sector employers
that has been implemented
to slow the spread of
COVID-19 and the emerging
omicron variant.
The sweeping expansion
of the “Key to NYC”
program — the first-inthe
nation vaccination
mandate for workers and
customers at indoor dining,
fitness, entertainment
and performance
venues — will require
all New Yorkers aged 12
and older to be required
to show proof of two vaccine
doses, instead of
one, except for those who
have received the Johnson
& Johnson vaccine.
“We in New York City
have decided to use a
preemptive strike to really
do something bold to
stop the further growth
of COVID and the dangers
it’s causing to all of
us,” de Blasio said. “So
as of today we’re going
to announce a first-inthe
nation measure: our
health commissioner
will announce a vaccine
mandate for private sector
employers across the
board.”
The mandate will
take effect on Dec. 27,
just four days before de
Blasio leaves office, and
it will apply to roughly
184,000 businesses
across the five boroughs,
according to City Hall.
“Throughout the
pandemic, small businesses
have gone above
and beyond to keep their
customers, employees
and communities safe.
While we remain concerned
about COVID-19,
we are also worried about
the impact that further
restrictions will have
on businesses,” Queens
Chamber of Commerce
President and CEO Tom
Grech said. “We hope
the administration will
work collaboratively with
small businesses on vaccine
mandates to ensure
we are keeping our city
safe while allowing our
businesses to stay open.”
Children ages 5 to 11
will be required to show
proof of at least one dose
of the vaccine starting
Dec. 14 for activities like
indoor dining, fitness
and entertainment, according
to de Blasio.
“A lot of parents, of
course, want to take
their kids out to wonderful
things that’ll be happening
in the holiday
season. Here’s a reminder:
Get your child vaccinated,”
he said.
Currently, only about
20% of New Yorkers in
that age group have gotten
vaccinated, according
to the mayor. The
expansion of the vaccine
mandate comes in the
middle of the holiday
season, which bars and
restaurants across the
five boroughs are counting
on after nearly two
years of restrictions
caused by the COVID-19
pandemic.
Andrew Rigie, executive
director of the
NYC Hospitality Alliance,
said that “given
the rapidly approaching
holidays and considerable
impact of the Dec.
14 deadline, the proposal
should be delayed until
next year.”
“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,” Rigie said.
“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 to 11
across the globe aren’t
universally authorized
to get vaccinated.”
The city will announce
additional enforcement
and “reasonable
accommodation”
guidance on Dec. 15,
along with additional resources
to support small
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