Public school staff throughout New York City’s five boroughs must get at least one Covid vaccine dose by September 27
(Picture: AP)New York City has announced that teachers will have to get a Covid-19 vaccine, expanding a mandate that already applies to city employees and healthcare workers.
City officials said public school staff throughout New York City’s five boroughs must get at least one Covid vaccine dose by September 27.
The mandate includes all education workers, including teachers, principals, custodians, food service staff and security guards.
Dr Dave Chokshi, the city’s health commissioner, said at a press briefing on Monday: “Covid-19 vaccination among teachers and other staff, as well as all eligible students, is a critical strategy to get us back to school.”
New York City’s public school system is the largest in the country, with almost 1.1 million students across almost 1,900 schools.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said he intended to continue discussing the mandate with the city’s teachers unions.
He said: “What there is clearly a willingness to do by all parties is sit at the bargaining table and figure out what this means and what the ramifications are, work together to see if we can resolve the outstanding issues.”
It comes after Pfizer became the first Covid vaccine to gain full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
It had initially been authorised for emergency use but is now fully approved for those 16 and older.
Emergency use authorisation remains for children aged 12 and 15.
In a statement, the FDA said its review for approval included data from approximately 44,000 people.
The vaccine, which will now be marketed as Comirnaty, was found to be 91 per cent effective in preventing Covid.
Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said that the public "can be very confident" the vaccine meets high safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality standards.
