New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio proposed stationing COVID-19 vaccination sites at popular attractions for tourists across the Big Apple.
Doses of the Johnson & Johnson shot would be given out of vans at these locations, including to people from outside the state, de Blasio said during a Thursday press conference.
The Democratic mayor called the proposal “a positive message to tourists: ‘Come here. It’s safe, it’s a great place to be, and we’re going to take care of you.'”
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Any resident of the state age 16 or older is eligible to receive the vaccine. De Blasio’s proposal would need approval by the state before it could be put into effect.
The New York State Health Department said on Thursday that it had not received a plan from the city to review.
“Meanwhile, we remain focused on vaccine equity and ensuring vaccine access for vulnerable New Yorkers and continue to assess the most effective use of doses as demand stabilizes,” said Jonah Bruno, a spokesman for the New York State Health Department.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the department on Friday for an update on the situation. The department responded by reiterating its current vaccination eligibility requirements without providing an update on de Blasio’s proposal.
As the COVID-19 vaccines become more widely available, New York has been on the hunt for ways to get more of its people vaccinated.
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On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that residents would be able to receive a free ticket to a Yankees or Mets game in return for getting a dose of the vaccine, which will be provided outside of the teams’ stadiums.
Nearly 7.5 million New Yorkers, or 37.5% of the state’s total population, have been vaccinated so far. Since the start of the pandemic, the state has reported over 2 million cases of the virus and more than 52,000 deaths caused by it, according to data collected by the New York Times.
