NYC Youth COVID Vaccination Hits 58% As School Approaches

NEW YORK CITY — A significant slice of New York City's public student population is poised to be vaccinated against the coronavirus when school reopens in the fall.

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday said 300,000 young New Yorkers between 12 and 17 years old have received at least one dose of vaccine so far.

The inoculations put the group's vaccination rate at 58 percent, more than the 48 percent national average, he said.

"We've a huge push on over these next weeks to get these kids vaccinated," he said. "I know parents will respond."

De Blasio and school officials are betting big on vaccinations to keep public students safe as they return to schools on Sept. 13.

Many parents and officials, such as Council Member Mark Treyger, are increasingly calling for detailed remote learning plans, especially as the highly contagious delta variant spreads.

"Kids need a remote option," he tweeted.

NYC’s fact sheet says people should quarantine for 10 days, not 7, if they are unvaccinated and are a close contact to confirmed cases. Try telling parents, students, & educators that 10 days are brief w/out instruction. Worksheets aren’t instruction. Kids need a remote option.
— Mark Treyger (@MarkTreyger718) August 19, 2021

But de Blasio, city and school officials have stood firm.

Ted Long, the city's head of Test & Trace, said a study conducted before vaccinations were underway found remote learning may not stop coronavirus transmission.

"We found that students and teachers in remote learning had the same risk of contracting COVID, if not a higher risk than students and teachers that were in our schools," he said.

The city's "Vax To School" effort remains underway.

De Blasio said PTAs that line up vaccinations are eligible for $100 for student and family member they sign up.