The Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed legislation on Aug. 11 instructing the city attorney to draft an ordinance requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccinations for Angelenos when dining indoors at restaurants or frequenting establishments such as gyms or sporting events.

The motion was introduced by Council President Nury Martinez, 6th District, and Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, 13 District, on Aug. 4

The new law will require eligible individuals to have received at least one dose of the vaccine to enter indoor public spaces, including but not limited to restaurants, bars, retail establishments, fitness centers, spas and entertainment centers such as stadiums, concert venues, and movie theaters.

“It’s our responsibility to protect the public, that includes protecting them from the unvaccinated,” Martinez said. “The decision to not get vaccinated doesn’t just affect you. We have kids under the age of 12 who are not eligible for the vaccine yet, and someone’s decision to not get vaccinated affects them as well.”

According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the county has experienced a near-doubling of the number of people hospitalized each day for COVID-19 during the past two weeks. Approximately 5.1 million people are fully vaccinated in Los Angeles County.

“Instead of fighting science, we should be fighting the virus,” O’Farrell said. “The data is clear: vaccines are safe and effective. We have endured 18 months of mass illness and death, with the latest variant wreaking havoc across the globe. Free vaccinations are widely available for all who are eligible. This is a necessary and sensible step that will broadly protect the health and safety of Angelenos. It could very well ward off another economic shutdown, which would be devastating to our city and our nation.”

Next, the city attorney will prepare and present a draft ordinance to the City Council. An amendment to the motion, authored by Martinez, instructs the city attorney to work with the chief legislative analyst to incorporate how businesses, council offices and stakeholders can comply with the measure. Martinez’s amendment also calls for input from parents, parent groups, teachers and pediatricians on how to best protect children.

The motion instructs the new Community Investment for Families Department to report on how to expand the VaxUpLA campaign and what resources are necessary for a citywide outreach and education program on the COVID-19 vaccines.