68% of Boston population is fully vaccinated

68% of Boston population is fully vaccinated

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68% of Boston population is fully vaccinated

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced a plan to implement a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for "select indoor public spaces" during a speech on Monday morning.

"Vaccination is the most powerful tool we have to fight this pandemic," Wu said during her announcement of the B Together Initiative.

Starting Jan. 15, patrons will be required to show they have received at least one vaccine dose to enter indoor dining, bars, nightclubs, gyms and entertainment. Proof of full vaccination will be required for adults by Feb. 15.

"We're also setting dates for children to be vaccinated to enter these spaces, beginning in March," Wu said.

Affected businesses will be required to place a sign at the front entrance, and to check a customer's vaccination proof upon entry.

Acceptable forms of proof will include a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccination card, a digital image of the card, an image of another official immunization record or a COVID-19 vaccine verification app. Wu's administration says Boston plans to develop its own app for that purpose.

Sixty-eight percent of Boston's population is fully vaccinated, the Wu administration said. So far, only 31% of the city's population has received a booster shot.

Meanwhile, Boston health officials are reporting a surge in new COVID-19 cases and related hospitalizations.

Wu, who supported vaccine identification proposals as a candidate, said her new policy was designed after conversations with leaders in New York City. She was also joined Monday by leaders from several nearby cities and towns, who expressed their support for Boston's plan. Communities represented included Brookline, Salem and Somerville.

Gov. Charlie Baker has said Massachusetts was working with other states on a digital proof of vaccination tool but he specifically opposed the idea of a mandate. As of Monday, the Baker administration said it would share more details about the digital vaccine part program "in the coming weeks."

Crowd of protesters interrupts @MayorWu news conference where she announces vaccine requirements for indoor spaces in Boston #wcvb Video ctsy @MarkT617 pic.twitter.com/9KpDFjoypC

As city officials spoke about the announcement, protesters began to loudly sing and chant in City Hall. At one point, speakers raised their voices over the noise as the protesters sang "The Star-Spangled Banner."

"There is nothing more American than coming together to ensure that we are taking care of each other," Wu said in response.

"For those communities who don't have these measures in place, I want those residents to speak up louder than what you're hearing here and demand they be put in place in our city and town," said Somerville's outgoing mayor, Joe Curtatone, who said he and the next mayor would seek similar policies in that city.

While some small business owners attended the news conference in support of the indoor mask mandate, the state chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business called it an additional burden on already struggling businesses.

“It is unfortunate that, once again, private businesses are being placed in the unenviable position of having to enforce another government health directive,” Christopher Carlozzi, the organization's state director, said in a statement provided to the Associated Press.

Also Monday, Wu announced an updated vaccination policy for city employees that will require them to be fully vaccinated or face termination. About 90% of the city's workers are already vaccinated, she said.

Wu's mayoral predecessor, Kim Janey, announced in August that all 18,000 city employees would be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo rigorous weekly testing. That policy, which was phased in over two months, also applied to onsite contractors and volunteers who provide services onsite at city worksites, including all full-time, part-time, seasonal, emergency and probationary workers.

Wu's new vaccination policy will eliminate the option for Boston employees to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test every seven days as an alternative to being fully vaccinated.

"We are taking steps to ensure that we are increasing protections all across the city as we see cases going up," Wu said Sunday. "We're in a moment where health must come first.

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