Mayor Eric Adams receives his second COVID-19 booster shot at City Hall | Photo by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
NEW YORK – New York City launched a citywide campaign on Tuesday, Sept. 20, to promote COVID-19 boosters this fall and encouraged all eligible New Yorkers to get their booster shots for an added layer of protection for themselves and those around them.
Mayor Eric Adams received his COVID-19 bivalent shot as he and the City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan announced the new campaign. Vasan said he received his booster shot on Monday, Sept. 19.
“I’m thrilled to roll up my sleeve and get boosted and encourage all eligible New Yorkers to do the same,” said Adams. “The new bivalent booster is here, providing better protection against variants we are seeing now and quite likely against variants in the future as well.”
The mayor and the commissioner also announced more flexibility for New York City’s businesses by encouraging private businesses to implement their vaccine policies after making the private sector vaccine mandate optional. And as New York City’s students head back to school, Adams said the City created more flexibility for parents and encouraged families to ensure their children have their primary and, if eligible, booster shots after making vaccines optional for students who participate in extracurricular activities, including, among other activities, New York City’s Public School Athletic League (PSAL).
According to the city administration, the private-sector vaccine mandate — along with the City’s additional mandates and incentives — has helped New York City reach high levels of vaccination and kept millions of New Yorkers safe and healthy. It urged private employers to implement their vaccine mandates as the City will continue implementing the city worker vaccination mandate for its employees. The private sector mandate becomes optional beginning Nov. 1.
The City also said that updated bivalent COVID-19 boosters are more effective at protecting against the latest variants and are recommended for all New Yorkers ages 12-and-up whose last COVID-19 vaccination was more than two months ago.
“With updated boosters, we can head into the fall knowing we’re protected against whatever this season has in store,” said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “Let’s roll up our sleeves and do our part to protect ourselves, our city, and our communities against COVID.”
Print, television, radio, and digital ads will go live across New York City promoting booster shots next week, the City said.
“As we enter this next phase of our recovery and provide more options and flexibility for businesses and their workforce, we would do well to remember that this collective spirit is what got us here and what will enable us to tackle future challenges facing our city,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer.
— With Ricky Rillera/PDM
