The mistake in de Blasio’s vaccine mandate

Plus: What omicron says about Covid’s evolution

Earlier this week, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a Covid-19 vaccine mandate for all private businesses. The mandate is universal, making it the most stringent in the country, and in his remarks announcing the mandate the mayor said his intent was to stave off a rise in cases that could potentially be caused by a combination of the arrival of winter and the omicron variant. Public health law experts Lawrence Gostin, Alexandra Finch, Sarah Wetter and Eric A. Friedman, however, say that the mayor has made a number of errors in enacting this mandate.

Though it’s more likely to survive court challenges than the Biden Administration’s rules, they write, the mayor’s choice to make the decision without discussion with city council is likely to increase resistance among the public. "Despite the imminent risk of a winter surge," they write. "Mayor de Blasio is nonetheless a lame duck mayor who acted unilaterally with just weeks remaining in office."

The consequence of the manner in which this mandate was adopted, they continue, puts what might have been a more effective policy at risk and undermine the city’s Covid response. That, they conclude, puts the City’s mandate "at risk of being bogged down in the courts and subject to howls of political and public protest. That’ll never gain public trust and will continue the unconscionable political and culture wars over America’s Covid-19 response."

Do you have comments or questions? Email us at health@forbes.com

More Covid News

The number of Americans filing initial jobless claims last week unexpectedly fell to the lowest level in 52 years, faring much better than economists were expecting. 

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said he blames former President Donald Trump for infecting him with Covid last year.

Polling shows that a slim majority of 56% of employed U.S. adults continue to support employer vaccine mandates.

New research from Morning Consult reveals that 39% of American business travelers say they will never go on another work trip.

Wells Fargo analysts say Wall Street is underestimating pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, which is primed for massive growth ahead as its Covid treatments will remain relevant for years.

What Else We Are Reading

• Survey: Americans concerned too many are seeking religious exemptions to vaccines (Religion News)

• Will ‘original antigenic sin’ undermine Omicron boosters? New research suggests ‘no’ (Endpoints News)

• How pandemic pressure is re-engineering clinical trials (Science)