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Democratic mayoral candidate Eric Adams said he would require COVID-19 vaccinations for school children if the FDA approves it — in what would be a major shift from Mayor Bill de Blasio’s position that there shouldn’t be a mandate for kids.
“Yes I would,” Adams said on WCBS Newsradio 880 Friday when asked about the issue.
“This is a city and country where we do vaccinate. i was vaccinated for smallpox, mumps, measles and so many others,” Adams said.
“We already have a system in place that states before you start school you receive your vaccination. It is to protect the child and the student population. We saw historically what happens when you have an outbreak of a certain type of illness that takes place that you can prevent even from polio,” Adams said.
“So I say yes if its FDA approved we should mandate it like we mandate with other vaccinations.”
The federal Food and Drug Administration is expected to green light the vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11 as early as this month.
De Blasio has a vaccine mandate for Department of Education staff and teachers but not students. He has said he’s opposed to requiring the shot for students because it’s might deter them from coming to class, which is more important.
Adams added that he’d also discuss requiring the shot for other municipal workers besides teachers, like cops and firefighters.
“Yes I would. It should be in consultation and in conjunction with the unions. I would sit down with union leaders and we will map out a real plan of how we get those officers engaged,” he said.
“I believe there’s a way to work this out,” Adams added.
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