NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio On Vaccines: ‘The Voluntary Phase Is Over’

Mayor Bill de Blasio has a message for some New Yorkers resisting vaccines: “The voluntary phase is over.”

The obtrusive threat was delivered in response to a panel discussion of vaccine mandates on MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe.’

De Blasio began by referencing a “major” push by the city to get kids over the age of 12 vaccinated.

“If my kids were going to school in September, I would be running to get them vaccinated right now,” he said, swiftly transitioning into a suggestion that vaccines should be a requirement.

“We’ve got to shake people at this point and say, come on now. We tried voluntary,” the mayor said.

“You know, we could not have been more kind and compassionate as a country. Free testing, everywhere you turn, incentives. Friendly, warm embrace,” added de Blasio.

“The voluntary phase is over.”

DE BLASIO: “We’ve got to shake people at this point and say ‘c’mon now.’ We tried voluntary. We could not have been more kind and compassionate as a country…free testing, incentives, friendly warm embrace — the voluntary phase is over.”
pic.twitter.com/vMnA6Dwr53

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) July 28, 2021

RELATED: Masks Coming Back: CDC Recommends Masks Indoors For Fully Vaccinated People

Vaccines Should No Longer Be Voluntary

De Blasio continued to explain why he believes vaccines should no longer be voluntary.

“We can keep doing those things,” he said of offering incentives. “I’m not saying shut it down.”

But, de Blasio added: “I’m saying voluntary alone doesn’t work. It’s time for mandates because it’s the only way to protect our people.”

Asked if the city will soon require all city workers to be inoculated, de Blasio said he’s heading in that direction.https://t.co/hGxYQVzZo4

— New York Post (@nypost) July 27, 2021

The Democratic mayor announced on Monday that city employees would be required to get vaccinated or face weekly testing.

“We have the right as an employer to guarantee the health and safety of our employees and everyone they serve,” he said.

De Blasio commented on that declaration on MSNBC, referring to it as “positive pressure” to acquire the vaccine, adding “we need to look at every form of mandate and that’s the public sector and private sector.”

“I think we’re all climbing a ladder here very rapidly. I think we need to look at every form of mandate,” NYC Mayor de Blasio says. https://t.co/P6G0KlKDSq

— MSNBC (@MSNBC) July 27, 2021

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Threats To Force Vaccines

Considering he despises New York Governor Andrew Cuomo both personally and politically, De Blasio’s threats over the ‘voluntary’ phase of vaccines being over sound very similar.

“We’ve got to shake people,” for example, sounds an awful lot like Cuomo’s recent threat that “we have to knock on those doors” and “put (people) in cars” and “get that vaccine in their arm.”

“We have to knock on those doors, and we have to convince people, and put them in a car, and drive them and get that vaccine in their arm. That is the mission.” – NY Gov Cuomo on vaccines pic.twitter.com/UZllXJRkcY

— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) July 26, 2021

Cuomo’s tune has changed significantly since the vaccine was first delivered by the Trump administration.

In September of last year, the Democrat governor was concerned that the FDA under Trump had rushed the vaccine, and indicated he would withhold it from New Yorkers until his own panel of experts could approve it.

“Frankly, I’m not going to trust the federal government’s opinion, and I wouldn’t recommend [vaccines] to New Yorkers based on the federal government’s opinion,” he said.

But trust them, you will, whether you want to or not, now that Biden is in office.

UPDATE | Once the feds approve a coronavirus vaccine, N.Y. will conduct its own review to make sure that the cure is safe, Cuomo says.

“Frankly, I’m not going to trust the federal government’s opinion.”https://t.co/2yAbg7GKz3

— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) September 25, 2020

De Blasio and Cuomo’s comments come as the Biden administration is developing their own vaccine mandates.

The President is expected to announce on Thursday a series of incentives to spur new vaccinations, as well as making vaccines mandatory for federal employees.

“That’s under consideration right now, but if you’re not vaccinated you’re not nearly as smart as I thought you were,” he said when asked about the mandate.