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MTA To Expand COVID-19 Vaccine Program To New Subway Stations, Citing Early Success
By
Sydney Pereira
Published May 17, 2021
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By
Sydney Pereira
Published May 17, 2021
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Citing early success with COVID-19 vaccine pop-up sites at subway and train stations around the city, the state announced three new hubs would open on Tuesday. Four of the initial eight locations in the pilot program would also continue to deliver shots.
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the extension after 5,701 people got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine during the opening wave of the program, which ran from last Wednesday to Sunday at subway, Metro-North, and Long Island Rail Road stations. Preliminary data listed by New York City’s health department shows that 13,400 total doses of Johnson & Johnson were administered over this timeframe, meaning the subway program accounted for nearly half of these shots.
The pop-up efforts will continue at the most popular hubs so far: Penn Station and Grand Central in Manhattan, East 180th Street in the Bronx, and Broadway Junction in Brooklyn. Those sites accounted for a total of 3,497 doses between May 12th and May 15th, the state said in a press release.
According to the governor, the three expanded sites will be located at 125th Street in Harlem, Sutphin Boulevard/Archer Avenue in Queens and the Long Island Rail Road’s Hicksville stop.
Citing their success, these four sites will continue to have vaccines through Saturday.
Governor Andrew Cuomo's Office
Three new sites open Tuesday.
Governor Andrew Cuomo's Office
The MTA’s pilot made up about 10% of all the city’s vaccinations—first doses and second doses—on its opening day, with tourists and young New Yorkers lining up for the shots. City officials are working on getting young city residents vaccinated as sign-ups for appointments have waned.
People who get vaccinated receive a free seven-day MetroCard or round-trip tickets for the LIRR or Metro-North.
“We will have the vaccines in the station,” Cuomo said Monday during a press briefing in Manhattan. “This works, and we’re going to find more creative ways to get people to take vaccines.”
Below are the hours for each vaccination station:
- 125th Street in Harlem, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- East 180th Street in the Bronx, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Grand Central Station in Vanderbilt Hall, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Penn Station at the 34th Street Corridor, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Sutphin Boulevard/Archer Avenue in Queens, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Hicksville - LIRR, 2 p,.m. to 7 p.m.
- Broadway Junction in Brooklyn, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tagged
COVID-19
coronavirus
MTA
new york city
new york
subway
vaccine
Sydney Pereira
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