Mayor Bill DeBlasio
Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
Aug. 20, 2021 By Christian Murray
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a new mandate today that will require public school students and administrators involved in high-risk school sports to be vaccinated in the coming school year.
The mandate would require students and administrators involved in high-risk public school sports—including football, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, lacrosse and rugby—to be vaccinated in order to participate. The requirement would also apply to bowling, since it is held indoors.
While the vaccine is not mandatory for students, participants in these specific sports will be required to be vaccinated in order to play.
“First dose must be acquired by the first day of competitive play or…the first time that they practice with a team,” de Blasio told Brian Lehrer of WNYC Friday morning.
The mandate will apply to an estimated 20,000 high school athletes. The mandate, however, will not apply to participants involved in low risk sports such as baseball, soccer, track and tennis.
