Janey Says Boston Will Not Require Proof Of Vaccination

Acting Mayor Kim Janey says Boston will not follow New York City in creating a vaccination passport.

New York officials say proof of a COVID vaccine will be needed for indoor restaurants, theaters, gyms and more.

To talk more about her decision, Janey joined WBUR's Morning Edition host Bob Oakes.

Highlights from this interview have been lightly edited.

On her reasoning for not creating a vaccination passport

Requiring a passport would have a disproportionate impact on poor communities of color. Rather than going that route, our strategy is to continue to inform and educate and work with community partners who have trusted relationships on the ground, meeting people where they are so that we can get the lifesaving vaccine into people's arms.

On vaccine policy for city workers

Either folks will choose and get vaccinated or they will have regular testing.

We are working with our labor leaders, with our legal department, to make sure that either [vaccination] or testing is part of our protocol in the city of Boston for city employees. It is very important that we protect our workforce and thereby protect the general public.

On getting more residents — especially residents of color — vaccinated

It is the central focus to ensuring that our residents are protected from COVID. That is why I have invested $3 million in a vaccine equity grant and why we continue to work on making sure that every resident in Boston has access and opportunity to get the life-saving vaccine.

We will continue to work with community partners. We will continue to bring mobile vaccination clinics to communities that have been hit hard, particularly communities of color [and] our younger population, to make sure that they are getting vaccinated. This is the goal.

On the city's current vaccination numbers

I am very hopeful and encouraged. We have seen in the last two weeks alone the number of vaccines increased. I think the good news in all of this is that people are taking the delta variant serious. More and more residents are masking up. More and more residents are taking the opportunity to get vaccinated.