City Councilor Mark Levine said on Thursday that the state-run Javits Center was the most popular vaccination center in the city.
A board member announced on his Twitter account that approximately 6,000 appointments for the Pfizer vaccine were opened at midnight for those ages 16 and up.
However, as of Thursday morning, Levine said almost all of the appointments remained, including 1,000 for Friday.
Almost all of these meetings are still available – including over 1000 for tomorrow.
This is the most popular vaccination center in New York. Until now, applications have often disappeared in a few minutes.
This is a deeply worrying development. https://t.co/yZ62vM0LLg
– Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) April 15, 2021
“This is a deeply worrying development,” he said.
Levine called it “a tipping point” in vaccinating New Yorkers.
NYC has reached a peak in vaccination.
After months of intense competition for applications, the slots are now filling much more slowly.
Our challenge is no longer to manage the crushing of demand. Bring the wave to people who need it and build trust in this life-saving solution.
– Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) April 15, 2021
“After months of intense competition for applications, slots are now filling up much more slowly. Our challenge is no longer to manage the crushing of demand. It was unpleasant to the people who need it and builds confidence in this life-saving solution,” Levine wrote. on Twitter.
He urged people to help get the word out and to volunteer to help others make appointments.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said available appointments did not signal a drop in demand or a problem in encouraging people to book vaccinations.
“I feel great about the fact that there are a lot of meetings for people and that are easier to get,” he said. “I’m much happier with the situation where people can get an appointment quickly.”
He added that the easier, simpler and closer you can make it for people, the more they will engage in the process.
“I agree with the mayor in describing that it’s a good thing,” said New York Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi. “Now there’s a longer window, not too long, hours or, in some cases, a day or two before it fills up.”
Dr. Chokshi said it now gives the city the opportunity to reach the people it really wants to reach, not just those who are technologically savvy.
He mentioned that the city’s hotline, 1-877-VAX-4NYC, has reservations reserved for those who prefer to use the phone instead of booking their COVID vaccination online.
“We do not consider demand to be a static phenomenon,” Chokshi said. Observing the city’s plan to increase access, expansion and trust.
The Javits Center has stopped using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, while a CDC advisory group is looking at six cases of blood clotting in patients. Those who show up for appointments at the Javits Center will receive the Pfizer COVID vaccine.
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