Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) The Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres have updated their COVID-19 vaccination policy.
Effective immediately, all guests between ages 5-11 will be required to present proof of at least one COVID-19 vaccination - for entry into all events at Highmark Stadium and KeyBank Center.
Until now, the mandate was not enforced for children under 12.
To verify COVID-19 vaccination, guests 5 and older will be required to display one of the following before entering Highmark Stadium or KeyBank Center:
- Physical vaccination card (Photo will not be accepted)
- NYS Excelsior Pass
- Government Digital vaccine proof from outside NYS
COVID-19 negative test results will not be accepted for entry. According to both organizations, there will be no exceptions made to the vaccine requirement.
The policy applies to Buffalo Bandits games, as well as concerts and other events at these venues.
The Bills and Sabres say the policy is in accordance with the New York State mandate.
Here what Gov. Kathy Hochul had to say on the new vaccination policy set in place by the Bills and Sabres during her weekly COVID-19 briefing on Wednesday:
"I thank them for doing the responsible thing. As our mandate has been since we announced it a few weeks ago, all sites have to either require vaccinations or they have to have masks. Again, I thank them for being the stewards of public health that they are, because a lot of people are fans. We all love our teams here in Western New York and across the state. To the leadership who said they're going to enforce this, that's really important. And if that's the incentive that gets more children vaccinated before they go back to school, that is a very, very positive outcome."
