The Los Angeles City Council voted on Wednesday to approve the city attorney's drafting of an ordinance that would require proof of at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine before people can enter indoor public places. The ordinance would apply to those eligible to receive the vaccine who want to enter venues such as concert venues, movie theaters, gyms, restaurants and bars.
City Attorney Mike Feuer will now draft an ordinance with recommendations on how businesses would comply.
Councilman Mitch O'Farrell said the ordinance is about keeping people safe without restricting those who have had their COVID-19 shots.
“How is it fair to the folks that rely on the facts, the data, the science and take the responsibility to become vaccinated? Are we to accommodate folks who refuse outright on principle or ideology? That doesn’t make it fair for everyone else,” said O’Farrell, who co-introduced the motion with City Council President Nury Martinez last Wednesday.
Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas expressed his support of the ordinance last week in a social media post. He said, “Mandatory vaccinations are unavoidable.”
Ridley-Thomas added that the highly contagious Delta variant currently sweeping L.A. requires the city to act.
"It’s time to act. Plain and simple - vaccinations are the only way out of this pandemic and we must work together to get it done," said Ridley-Thomas.
O’Farrell told KNX he also wants to introduce a vaccine requirement for all public employees, similar to the requirement that was approved Tuesday for employees of L.A. County by the Board of Supervisors.
A similar indoor vaccine policy was recently announced in New York City, but L.A.'s would be more restrictive with the inclusion of retail establishments, potentially limiting access to some basic necessities.
The motion is available to read below.