NYC Vaccinates More than 3 Million

By Yehudit Garmaise

   While Mayor Bill de Blasio has set a goal to vaccinate 5 million New Yorkers by June, he is already 3/5 of the way there mid-March.

   Today, the mayor announced the great news that 3,019,434 New Yorkers have been vaccinated since New York City first started receiving vaccines in late December.

   “That number is growing intensely every day,” Mayor de Blasio said. “That's really good news.”  

   Although proud of the city’s accomplishments, the mayor has long complained that the city is not getting a large enough supply of vaccines and that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has put too many restrictions on whom get can vaccinated and when. 

   “I would like total freedom to vaccinate,” the mayor said this morning. “I would like the city of New York to have local control so we can get the job done, but we are making progress of getting some greater freedom.”

  One recent victory arrived when the state of New York announced that public-facing government workers are now eligible for the vaccine.

  “This is important, we fought for this, we are finally getting it,” the mayor said. “Now, we are going to [better]  reach people who serve us and have do so much for us.”

    While lauding the city’s slightly greater freedom to vaccinate, Mayor de Blasio said that “Everything comes down to supply, and we are going to keep fighting to get the supply we need and deserve.”

Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.