NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A week after Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that over 50,000 people received the $100 vaccine incentive offered at NYC vaccination sites, as of Thursday, more than 80,000 have now taken up the city's offer.
“This is working, this is important to people,” de Blasio said during his Thursday news conference. “This hundred-dollar incentive has made a difference.”
De Blasio's office said last week that a majority of the $100 incentives have gone to residents of color.
As of Thursday, city health data showed over 44% of Hispanic/Latino and 30% of Black residents are fully vaccinated compared to 47% of white and 73% of Asian residents. Over 56% of all New Yorkers are now fully vaccinated.
The city's efforts to ramp up vaccination rates come as the city-wide order that requires anyone to show proof of vaccination to enter restaurants, gyms, bars and other indoor venues goes into effect.
Starting Sept. 13, city workers will be required to get vaccinated or get tested weekly, while the NYPD will now reportedly penalize unvaccinated officers who don't wear masks while on the job.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that all state health workers will be required to get vaccinated by Sept. 27.