Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Mayor De Blasio Says NYC Will Run Out Of COVID Vaccine Next Week
By
David Cruz
Published Jan 15, 2021
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Kevin Hagen/AP/Shutterstock
By
David Cruz
Published Jan 15, 2021
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
New York City will run out of COVID-19 vaccine supplies by the end of next week, Mayor Bill de Blasio warned on Friday. The shortage would disrupt the mayor's goal of administering 1 million doses across the five boroughs by the end of January, delaying the prospect of rapidly achieving herd immunity and reopening safely.
"We will run out of vaccine next week in New York City if there's not a very different approach from the federal government, and the state government, and the manufacturers," de Blasio said on the Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC. "We're not going to have enough vaccine by the end of next week."
A source within the de Blasio administration told Gothamist that the city currently has 186,000 doses on hand right now. At its current pace with doling out doses, the city's supply will run out by January 21st.
This morning, de Blasio pointed out that the vaccine shortage has even kept hospitals such as Mt. Sinai and NYU Langone from booking new appointments. A review of the hospitals' websites confirms this. Mt. Sinai has also been canceling exiting appointments.
Earlier on Friday, the Trump administration admitted that the nation's vaccine reserves ran empty last weekend, well before the Health and Human Services Department announced on Tuesday that it would release stockpiled doses. It is unclear when the federal government will be able to come through with another batch of vials, potentially slowing access for millions of people still waiting to get the vaccine. This includes those falling in the Phase 1b category, the largest of the group in Phase 1 of the state's vaccine rollout plan.
New York City has ramped up vaccinations across New York City after opening roughly 160 vaccination centers, including several 24/7 sites to get as many as 7,000 people inoculated with either the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. About 250 vaccine centers will be opened citywide by the end of the month. Between Monday and Thursday, 125,000 people received a shot, de Blasio said. He expects that more than 175,000 people will be vaccinated this week, surpassing the goal he set on Monday.
De Blasio said that anyone who still comes for their first appointment will get a second appointment for now, given the three- and four-week waiting period between the second shots for Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, respectively.
"But the increasing problem now is there's not enough supply of vaccine to keep up with the first appointment let alone the second appointment," de Blasio said.
Currently, the city receives 100,000 doses, which New York City Council members and de Blasio called a paltry sum.
Tagged
COVID-19
vaccine
David Cruz
David is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
DSA to Mamdani: Fire NYPD commissioner if ICE doesn't leave NYC
The DSA's NYC chapter accused the NYPD of collaborating with ICE and demanded Mayor Mamdani hold Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch responsible.
By
Elizabeth Kim
,
Brigid Bergin
and
Ben Feuerherd
Published Oct 9, 2026 at 6:31 p.m. ET
Two people killed in Bronx vehicle crash
When officers arrived on the scene in Allerton Friday afternoon, they found three pedestrians who were unconscious with trauma to the head and body, according to the NYPD. Two individuals later died.
By
Kaya Laterman
News
Two people killed in Bronx vehicle crash
When officers arrived on the scene in Allerton Friday afternoon, they found three pedestrians who were unconscious with trauma to the head and body, according to the NYPD. Two individuals later died.
By
Kaya Laterman
NY will opt in Trump’s school choice program, Hochul says
By
Jon Campbell
Residents, lawmakers warned for months of potential for deadly ICE activity in Marble Hill
By
David Brand
Manhattan DA argues judge shouldn't dismiss state charges against Luigi Mangione
By
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .