NYC 'Lost' Week In COVID Vaccinations After Supply Delay: Mayor

New York City NY

22 February, 2021

1:47 PM

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NEW YORK CITY — A bout of severe winter weather loosened its grip enough for much-needed coronavirus vaccine doses to finally arrive in New York City on Monday. Mayor Bill de Blasio said the shipments originally expected last week will replenish the city's vaccine stores. He said the depleted supply brought the city's first-dose supply to below 1,000 shots over the weekend. "It means we've basically lost a full week in our vaccination efforts," he said. The city currently has the ability to perform 500,000 vaccinations a week, yet it receives only a fraction of that in its weekly allotment from the federal government. Lack of supply not only slowed efforts to vaccinate New Yorkers as new coronavirus variants spread, it creates daily frustrations for the ever-growing numbers of residents who are eligible to get doses yet compete for slightly more than 100,000 appointment slots a week. It also potentially creates issues instilling trust in the vaccine, which officials argue has complicated efforts to get people living in 33 "priority" neighborhoods vaccinated. De Blasio said despite the troubles that 1.5 million doses of vaccine have so far went into arms. He said the city is on pace to reach its goal of hitting 5 million vaccinations by June.