In this episode, I talk with two New York City students and their mother. One of the students goes to a public high school and the other to a City University of New York (CUNY) community college. Both face barriers to pursuing a college education because they have not taken a COVID-19 vaccine and vaccination requirements remain in place at CUNY schools and other colleges.
The students talked with me about how vaccine mandates affect their education, what it’s like to attend school remotely, and how pandemic policies have affected young people. They also talked about their views on broader questions about public health policy, the role of technology in their life, and what their hopes and fears about the future are.
You can read our conversation here:
https://tinyurl.com/NYMPepisode34
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About the New York Mandate Podcast
The New York Mandate Podcast is an ongoing series of conversations exploring the costs and consequences of vaccine mandates in New York City. I talk with workers, students, and parents who have been directly affected by the mandates, as well as legal and policy experts.
In late 2021, the City introduced a series of requirements for workers and to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. These requirements were put in place through executive orders issued by the administration of former mayor Bill de Blasio. They covered nearly all workers in New York City, in both the public and private sectors. They also barred unvaccinated adults, including parents, from schools.
Current mayor Eric Adams kept the mandates in place until November 1, 2022 for the private sector and February 10, 2023 for City workers, and has encouraged private employers to put their own vaccine requirements in place.
The views expressed in the New York Mandate podcast are the personal opinions of the people speaking, and are not intended to provide medical or legal advice.
Join the Conversation
Have you lost your job, been put on leave, or lost opportunities to work as an independent contractor as a result of your decision not to comply with a New York vaccine mandate? Did you take a vaccine against your wishes in order to keep your job? Please get in touch with me at NYMpodcast@protonmail.com.
New York Mandate Podcast, Ep. 34: “Nothing's Really for Certain.”: Two NYC Students on How College Vaccine Mandates Affect Their Lives and Their Futures