NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- The new mass vaccination site opening at Yankee Stadium on Friday still had thousands of appointments available on Thursday, despite the city's efforts to sign Bronx residents up for slots.
Registration for appointments at the baseball stadium opened Wednesday, but as of Thursday evening, slots were still available on Monday, Feb. 8 through Friday, Feb. 12, the site's signup page showed.
“There are still 1000s of vaccine appts available at Yankee Stadium next week. They are not disappearing fast,” Councilman Mark Levine, whose district includes Washington Heights and parts of the Upper West Side, pointed out on Twitter.
“This is good news — but also bad news. It means NYC is not doing enough outreach to people on the ground,” he added. “The City should have teams out all over the Bx signing people up.”
A spokesperson for Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday, however, responded to Levine, saying the city has “[canvassers] literally on the ground in the area, sharing vaccine information and helping eligible people make vaccine appointments on the spot.”
Canvassers booked 300 appointments at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, de Blasio’s press secretary noted.
De Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday said the site, which is only open to Bronx residents, would be able to offer 15,000 appointments during its first week in operation.
Bronx residents who meet New York state’s 1A and 1B COVID-19 vaccine eligibility requirements can visit somosvaccinations.com or call 1-833-SOMOSNY to schedule an appointment at the site.