De Blasio 'Can't Support' Child COVID Vaccine Mandate For Schools

NEW YORK CITY — Don't expect Mayor Bill de Blasio to impose a coronavirus vaccine mandate for public school students anytime soon.

De Blasio said Wednesday he "can't support" such a rule at this point. He said children, who spent most of last school year in remote learning, need to be in classrooms.

"We can't, in my opinion, hold against our kids the decisions of adults because the kids can't get vaccinated without the adult consent," he said. "And there's still, unfortunately, in my mind, too many adults who are not ready to give that consent. I want those kids in school no matter what."

The question posed to the mayor by PIX11 reporter James Ford followed increased talk of expanding Pfizer vaccine eligibility for children ages 5 to 11.

Doctors heading the New York chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics recently threw their unequivocal support behind mandating coronavirus vaccines for students once federal approval is granted, THE CITY reported.

De Blasio has aggressively expanded vaccine mandates for indoor spaces and certain city workers such as teachers. But while he has strongly hinted further rules for municipal workers could be coming soon, he repeatedly drew the line for a strict, wide mandate for school children.

"The schools are safe," he said. "I want every kid in the classroom. The best way to do that now is the approach we're taking now. Again, as we see new information in the future, we'll evaluate, but that's the direction we're going to keep for now."

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