NYC aims to double number of COVID-19 vaccine sites by end of January: de Blasio

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- New York City is aiming to double the number of sites vaccinating New Yorkers by the end of the month, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Health & Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dave Chokshi said Monday.

As of Monday, approximately 125 sites across the city were offering COVID-19 vaccines to eligible New Yorkers, Chokshi said at the mayor's daily briefing Monday morning.

By the end of January, at least 250 sites will be able to offer vaccinations, he said.

"We are focused right now on our healthcare heroes, we're focused on nursing homes, but during the month of January, we need to expand those categories," de Blasio said. "In the next few weeks, I want to see us start to vaccinate educators and school staff. I want to see us vaccinate first responders of all kinds: cops, firefighters, across the spectrum."

"We need to reach many more people quickly, urgently, and it can be done," he added.

Throughout this week, many of New York City's health care workers will be getting their second doses of the vaccine, Chokshi said.

As of Jan. 1, meanwhile, home care workers, hospice workers and additional nursing home staff members became eligible to receive vaccines, de Blasio said.

The city will be opening three new vaccine hubs this coming Sunday, Jan. 10 at the following sites, the mayor noted:

• Brooklyn: Bushwick Educational Campus, 400 Irving Avenue
• Queens: Hillcrest High School, 160-05 Highland Avenue
• Bronx: South Bronx Educational Campus, 701 St. Ann's Avenue

"We want to make sure that whatever it takes logistically, and whatever it takes in terms of community outreach, we're going to be able to get to this goal and then build from there," he said.