New York City Ends Vaccine Mandate for City Workers

New York City will end its aggressive but contentious coronavirus vaccine mandate for municipal workers, Mayor Eric Adams announced on Monday, signaling a key moment in the city’s long battle against the pandemic.

“With more than 96 percent of city workers and more than 80 percent of New Yorkers having received their primary Covid-19 series and more tools readily available to keep us healthy, this is the right moment for this decision,” Mr. Adams said in a statement.

Starting Friday, Mr. Adams said that vaccination for the coronavirus would become optional for current and prospective city workers. Visitors to city schools will also no longer be required to provide proof of at least one dose of the vaccine to enter.

The vaccine mandate for city workers was set in October 2021 by former Mayor Bill de Blasio and was one of the most aggressive steps in the nation to increase vaccination rates. It prompted hundreds of workers to be fired and a series of lawsuits. Some workers applied for religious exemptions.