Cuomo: Get vaxed and get a goodie
ALBANY — Popup COVID vaccination sites are coming to transit hubs and subway stations across the city and surrounding suburbs in an effort to expand access to immunizations, Gov. Cuomo announced Monday.
As an incentive, the state will offer a free seven-day MetroCard or round-trip LIRR or Metro-North ticket to anyone who chooses to get vaccinated during their daily commute.
“It is a creative idea, we’re trying many creative ideas because we have to get the vaccination rate up,” the governor said during a press briefing from his Manhattan office. “And this situation, we’ve always handled this as a community. Everyone should be doing everything they can to get people vaccinated.”
Single-dose Johnson & Johnson shots will be available this Wednesday to Sunday at select subway, LIRR and Metro-North hubs.
Last week, officials announced that the Yankees and the Mets will give free tickets to fans who get vaccinated against coronavirus at either of the teams’ ballparks. Earlier Monday, Mayor de Blasio said the city will be handing out tickets to the New York Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Bronx Zoo and more sites to those who get immunized.
In an effort to boost the number of younger New Yorkers getting vaccinated, state and city-run colleges and universities will require COVID vaccinations for all students taking in-person classes in the fall, Cuomo announced.
The vaccine mandate that applies to students attending classes at State University of New York and City University of New York campuses is part of the state’s push to get more younger New Yorkers vaccinated.
“You must have a vaccine to come back in September,” the governor said. “If you have to get it by September, you may as well get it now.”
Cuomo urged private colleges to take similar steps.
“Let’s make a global statement: You cannot go back to school in September unless you have a vaccine,” he said. “That will be a major motivation to get the vaccination.”
The governor said that 16.8 million doses of coronavirus vaccine have been administered as of Monday, with 60.2% of people above 18 getting at least one shot.
New York reported a 1.43% positivity rate with 27 new COVID-related deaths statewide on Sunday. There are currently 2,016 people hospitalized with the virus in the state.
Cuomo also proposed legislation Monday he said would be aimed at stopping discrimination against people who have been vaccinated.
“We can’t be in a situation where we’re full-throated encouraging people to get a vaccine and then have people saying if you get a vaccine, you can’t participate in this activity,” he said.
He then referenced reports concerning a Sullivan County summer camp for ultra-Orthodox Jewish boys, Camp Hikon, where administrators said they would not accept campers or staff who had been inoculated against the virus.
“I understand the anti-vaccine argument,” Cuomo said. “In my opinion, there is no science to it. You can have a theory, you can have a belief, but you can’t use that to make public policy without science and without data.”
Johnson & Johnson vaccinations will be available Wednesday through Sunday at the following hubs during the hours listed (no appointments needed):
Penn Station, 34th Street Corridor (3-8 p.m.)
Grand Central, Vanderbilt Hall (8 a.m.-1 p.m.)
Coney Island subway station (8 a.m.-1 p.m.)
LIRR Hempstead (3-8 p.m.) Metro-North Ossining (3-8 p.m.)
Broadway Junction subway station in Brooklyn (3-8 p.m.)
E. 180th St. subway station in the Bronx (8 a.m.-1 p.m.)
179th St. subway station in Jamaica, Queens (8 a.m.-1 p.m)