NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Mayor Bill de Blasio showcased the "vaccine hawker" of Times Square on Thursday after a tip from 1010 WINS reporter Juliet Papa.
Tanika Price is a nurse who works at the 20 Times Sq. vaccination site. She has been out at the Crossroads of the World, spreading the word and encouraging people to get vaccinated.
NYC Mayor
"A few days ago, we got a report from Juliet Papa of 1010 WINS," de Blasio said at his daily coronavirus briefing. "She said in Times Square she saw this extraordinary woman out there promoting vaccines. She said, 'I think I've found New York City's vaccine hawker.'"
De Blasio said his team was immediately interested and went out and found Price.
"She makes a difference. She literally just goes on out there, connects with people, talks with them, brings them in," de Blasio said. "I am so proud of you, Tanika. That is what a New Yorker does. You go out and make it happen."
A video from the Mayor's Office shows Price holding a sign in Times Square and talking with people about the vaccine.
"What we're doing is on-the-ground work, spreading the word that we do first- and second-dose Pfizer vaccines, free of charge," Price said. "I go out on the streets, recruit people in real-time that will just walk up and take the vaccine."
NYC Mayor
Price said that on some days she spends an hour outside advocating for the vaccine. Among the people Price recruited was Times Square's Naked Cowboy.
Video shows the Times Square staple getting a vaccine with his classic getup and guitar after Price reached out to him.
"I've vaccinated everyone in the businesses on the block," Price said. "People come back and say, 'I've told my wife, my children, my community centers about your location.' And it really makes a difference to me."
