Moderna Coronavirus Vaccine Arrives In NYC: 25K Doses So Far

New York City NY

22 December, 2020

12:11 PM

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NEW YORK CITY — The first shipments of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine brought 25,000 doses to New York City on Monday, said health Commissioner Dave Chokshi. Chokshi said the city expects to receive 149,000 doses this week. "We're looking forward to getting it to as many people as will benefit from it as quickly as possible," he said. The Moderna vaccine is the second COVID-19 vaccine approved by the federal government. Between the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the city has so far received about 86,000 doses, according to data. About 22,000 residents so far got their first of two vaccination doses, the data states. The city has vaccinated people at twice the national average so far, Mayor Bill de Blasio said. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said statewide about 50,000 people have received vaccine doses. He said the state as whole will receive 300,000 additional doses by the end of next week. He asked workers in nursing homes to work over the holidays to vaccinate residents, who have been especially vulnerable to COVID-19. "I understand it's been a long year and everyone needs time off but we are in a foot race (with) the increase in the COVID spread versus the vaccination rate," he said. "So, I am asking them to continue to vaccinate over the holidays. In many ways, in a nursing home, a vaccine is the best gift that you could give a nursing home resident."