New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said during an appearance on MSNBC the time for vaccine mandates is now.
“I think we need to look at every form of mandate, and, that’s public sector and private sector,” de Blasio said. “I’ve said to the private sector in New York City, any private sector entity can go ahead and do a full mandate. If that’s something you feel you can do and works for you, do it now. Everyone’s in a different situation, but go as far as you can go right now because we have to stop the Delta variant.”
De Blasio also said the “anti-vaxxers are criminal at this point.”
“What they are doing to this country is undermining our future,” he said. “If we go backwards, this country is going to be in a horrible, dangerous place in terms of our lives, our livelihoods, our economy. And, if we don’t get it right on vaccination, we’re going to lose a huge number of Americans.”
De Blasio said the government tried to allow Americans to voluntarily get vaccinated, but it hasn’t worked.
“We tried voluntary. We could not have been more kind and compassionate as a country,” he said.
Now, he said, the government needs “to shake people at this point and say c’mon now.”
De Blasio said he is calling on all New York City employers – including private hospitals – to mandate the vaccine.
