Yonkers High School Athletes Must Be Vaccinated By September 27

YONKERS, NY — Eligible student athletes must prove they have had at least one coronavirus vaccination by a September 27, deadline or they will not be able to participate in school-sanctioned sports.

New protocols released by the Yonkers Public Schools Board of Education require those over the age of 16 to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination before participating in after-school sports. All students, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to submit to weekly COVID-19 surveillance testing. The district said that if one of the vaccines should be approved by the FDA for children over the age of twelve, then the vaccine requirement will apply to those students as well.

"This fall, student athletes have the opportunity to participate in varsity and junior varsity football, soccer, volleyball and swimming," the district said in a letter to families. "When playing sports there is significant physical contact among players. Consequently, there are associated risks with all sports, including the potential spread of COVID-19."

Additionally, the district is requiring that all student athletes, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, randomly participate in weekly COVID-19 surveillance testing. School district nurses will administer the mandatory testing.

The district is requiring that all student athletes 16 and older be vaccinated with at least the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine by the September 27, deadline. Students participating in winter and spring sports will have a little longer to get their first dose of coronavirus vaccine. A deadline has not been set yet.