Mayor warns NYC in danger of running out of COVID vaccine

NYC vaccination sites

The New York Mets are partnering with the city to set up a COVID-19 vaccination clinic inside Citi Field in Queens.

NEW YORK - New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that the city was on track to vaccinate one million New Yorkers by the end of the month, but at that pace, runs the risk of running out of the vaccine.

In two weeks' time, the city may not have enough doses of the COVID vaccine to cover all the eligible New Yorkers which now includes anyone 65 and older.

26,528 New Yorkers were vaccinated Monday. The city's goal is to vaccinate 175,000 people by the end of the week.

People who are age 65 and up and a much longer list of workers, including transit employees, grocery clerks, teachers, police officers, firefighters and others became eligible this week to get the vaccine.

Vaccination protocols

The Trump administration expanded the eligibility for getting the COVID-19 vaccine. But Gov. Andrew Cuomo says New York hasn't gotten enough doses to meet the demand.

The mayor announced that the New York Mets have partnered with the city's Health and Hospitals Corporation to open a 24-hour vaccination clinic at Citi Field in Flushing.

"The Mets are hitting it out of the park today," de Blasio said. "By making Citi Field a 24/7 vaccination site, they’re stepping up to the plate for New Yorkers across our city."

The Citi Field site scheduled to launch the week of Jan. 25 and could eventually scale up to vaccinate about 5,000 to 7,000 people per day, the mayor's office said.

Some New York City council members have been critical of the vaccine rollout citing the challenge of scheduling appointments using online tools for those economically challenged and the elderly. As a result, de Blasio announced a new phone line was established to make an appointment: 877-VAX-4NYC.

NYC runs risk of running out of vaccine

Mayor Bill de Blasio said NYC could run out of vaccine in the next two weeks.

Trump administration recommends states begin vaccinating people older than 65, stop holding back 2nd dose

"While I have and will continue to acknowledge that the massive logistical challenge the city faces, I do not feel confident we are doing all that we can to get New Yorkers vaccinated with the supplies of vaccine we currently possess," Council Member Carlina Rivera said. "I have to ask the question that every New Yorker is asking, we knew for at least eight months that a vaccine was coming. We knew that millions of people had to be vaccinated. Why are we just now figuring out where and how to administer?"

NYC Vaccine Finder

New York City is opening 24-hour vaccination hubs and has launched a website and hotline to help you find a place to get your shot.

Any eligible New Yorker can make an appointment online at NYC.gov/VaccineFinder.

With the Associated Press