Citi Field was scheduled to open this week as a 24/7 mass vaccination site, but New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed on Monday that the opening is now on hold.
Mega-sites at Yankee Stadium and Empire Outlets are also on hold.
New York City has administered 628,831 doses so far, de Blasio said, with 19,032 first doses remaining.
The city expects 107,825 refueling doses this week. NYC will be able to vaccinate 500,000 people a week, the mayor said, once supplies are replenished.
When it comes to other locations, such as the state-run Javits Center, there are still some bookings available, but very few considering the current demand and the pace at which the state has vaccinated New Yorkers.
New York locations that were no longer accepting appointments include Jones Beach – Field 3, State Fair Expo Center, SUNY Albany, Westchester County Center, SUNY Stony Brook University Innovation and Discovery Center, Aqueduct Racetrack – Racing Hall, SUNY Binghamton, SUNY Polytechnic Institute , University at Buffalo South Campus and Rochester Dome Arena.
SUNY Potsdam Field House and Plattsburgh International Airport are still available.
The new White House administration has made no promises.
“I have nothing for you about prioritization,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki. “This is something that our team is working on and we want to ensure that we are working closely with governors across the country to do this effectively.”
Meanwhile, due to the reduction in COVID rates in our region, the governor has not yet said how, but says he will reverse the restrictions on business as of Wednesday.
“I think New Yorkers were smart about that, which is why you saw that the rate of positivity hasn’t increased like elsewhere,” said Cuomo. “I think we are in a new place now, we can start to adjust this valve and start to open more economic activity and reduce some of the restrictions and reduce some of the micro cluster zones, orange zones, etc.”
250,000 doses are on their way to New York state this week, with New York City dispensing 107,000 of those doses.
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Cuomo is also working to ensure that the vaccine reaches hard-hit minority communities.
A recent survey found that 40% of black Americans have reservations about the vaccine.
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On Sunday, the governor sent a recorded message to black patrons.
“We all need to trust the vaccine,” said Cuomo. “I know there is skepticism about the government. And I know there is skepticism about the Trump Administration in particular. Don’t get me wrong: I didn’t trust many actions by the Trump Administration. But this vaccine has been reviewed by the best doctors and hospitals and researchers in the New York state, and it’s safe. “
The scarcity of doses has affected the FDNY, which is suspending first-dose vaccinations for its members on Monday because of an ever-diminishing supply.
About 7,000 members received the starting dose. The department will resume vaccination as soon as it receives more doses.
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