Mayor de Blasio Announces Vaccine Mandate for New York City Workforce

October 20, 2021

City employees to receive $500 incentive for first dose through next week

All City workers, excluding uniformed correction officers, required to have at least one dose by 5pm on October 29th

NEW YORK—Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced a COVID-19 vaccination mandate for all City workers. Starting today, City employees will receive an extra $500 in their paycheck for receiving their first shot. This benefit will end at 5pm on Friday, October 29th, by which point City employees are required to have proof of at least one dose. Unvaccinated employees will be placed on unpaid leave until they show proof of vaccination to their supervisor.

Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi will sign a Commissioner’s Order today to formalize the mandate, which will immediately apply to approximately 160,500 City workers. Seventy-one percent of the workers affected by this mandate have already received at least one vaccine dose.

Department of Education (DOE) and New York City Health and Hospitals (H+H) workers have been subject to vaccination mandates since late September; today, vaccination rates at DOE and H+H are 96% and 95%, respectively. The new mandate is effective on November 1st to the entire municipal workforce, including all NYPD, FDNY, and DSNY employees. Civilian employees of the Department of Correction (DOC) and uniformed members assigned to healthcare settings are also immediately subject to the mandate. Other uniformed members at DOC will be subject to mandate effective December 1st, as the City works diligently to address the ongoing staffing situation at Rikers Island.

“There is no greater privilege than serving the people of New York City, and that privilege comes with a responsibility to keep yourself and your community safe,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We have led the way against COVID-19 – from fighting for the right to vaccinate frontline workers, to providing nation-leading incentives, to creating the Key to NYC mandate. As we continue our recovery for all of us, city workers have been a daily inspiration. Now is the time for them to show their city the path out of this pandemic once and for all.”

“Vaccinations are critical to combatting the COVID-19 pandemic. This mandate is a bold step that protects our families, friends, and communities, including those that are not yet eligible for the vaccine such as our City’s youngest residents. It builds on our continued leadership and innovative strategies to fighting this pandemic and bring us a step closer to a recovery for all. Thank you to the dedicated City workforce for your continued service throughout this pandemic,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Melanie Hartzog.

The City will begin impact bargaining with affected unions immediately.

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