NYC Expects 149K Moderna Vaccine Doses This Week

New York City NY

21 December, 2020

11:29 AM

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NEW YORK CITY — More than 149,000 doses of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine are slated for delivery to New York City, health officials said. The vaccine — the second approved by the federal government — will arrive Monday through Wednesday, said health Commissioner Dave Chokshi. The doses will go toward primarily health care workers at this point, as laid out in state guidance, he said. "That's the staff in community health centers as well as our emergency medical services personnel," he said Monday. The city's vaccination effort began last week with the arrival of a vaccine developed by Pfizer. Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday that 18,000 doses have been administered so far. He said 42.2 percent of New York City's vaccine doses have been administered, compared to 19.6 percent nationally. "We're basically doing things twice as fast as the national average," he said. But de Blasio again warned the city faces dangers until more people get vaccinated, especially from the holidays. He said officials traced a coronavirus spike from Thanksgiving gatherings and travel. New Yorkers face another travel warning as Christmas looms and should stay home, he said. New Yorkers can find out more information on vaccines at nyc.gov/VaccineCommandCenter.