Starting Tuesday, private sector businesses and children who play sports and participate in extracurricular activities will no longer be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.  

Mayor Eric Adams announced this coming change back in late September, saying the lifting of the mandate will provide flexibility for businesses while encouraging these employees and parents to get vaccinated themselves.  

Dr. Ashwin Vassan, commissioner of the city’s Department of Health, says that this is the next step for a return to normalcy while being out of the emergency phase of the pandemic. Vassan also says that the lifting of the mandate is in the interest of the public not feeling pressured to get vaccinated, but that it is still very important.  

The mayor added that there were different moments throughout the pandemic that required a shift to strict mandates, and that in order to stay ahead of COVID-19, it’s important for New Yorkers to receive their latest vaccinations.