Last Friday, coach Ron Naclerio held a meeting for students interested in joining the basketball team at Benjamin Cardozo High School. 17 of them were not vaccinated against COVID-19, meaning they could not be tested.
“I got 17 of their names, 17 of their emails and phone numbers, and when we try in two, three weeks, they’ll be able to test now,” Naclerio said.
What You Need To Know
Effective immediately, the COVID-19 vaccine is no longer required for students to play sports in public schools Vaccine mandates remain in place for school staff and all city employees Parents or guardians are still required to be vaccinated in order to visit a public school building
Mayor Eric Adams rolled back the requirement that students need to be vaccinated to participate in extracurriculars or high-risk sports, such as basketball. See the article : NCAA Beats Tennessee by 18 Fouls Under Former Coach Jeremy Pruitt.
“We are removing the requirement to be vaccinated to participate in sports and extracurricular activities. We are removing that requirement for our school children,” Adams said at a City Hall press conference. “The removal is not a sign. shows that we don’t believe boosters are important and vaccines are important – we will continue to encourage parents to vaccinate their children.”
Naclerio — who has been the school’s head coach for 42 years and has more wins than any other public school coach — sees that decision as a victory. But it’s one he says is too late for some student-athletes.
“There are kids I know who left New York City in September, thinking they weren’t going to be allowed to play. They went to Texas. They went to Florida. They went to Long Island. They went to West Virginia,” Naclerio said.
Even those who did — and were vaccinated — missed significant court time due to cancellations and cut-offs.
“Some kids are going to go around the bases and go to first, second, third and home, but when they get home, they’re only on second base. Because they missed a year. They missed two years. They missed one. developmental years, two developmental years, social skills, physical skills, academic skills,” Naclerio said.
Immunization obligations still exist for school staff members. Parents or guardians are still required to be vaccinated to visit public school premises.
