NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Mayor Bill de Blasio has rolled up his sleeve to get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The mayor received the single-dose shot live during his daily press briefing Thursday morning, with his wife by his side.
The shot was administered by Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi.
"I could barely feel it," de Blasio said as he joined the more than 3 million New York City residents who have been vaccinated. "That was easy."
The mayor was given his vaccination card and a pin marking the occasion.
"It's a great feeling when you know you've been vaccinated and you can protect your loved ones, and your family and your whole community," de Blasio said.
The mayor announced his intention to get the shot earlier this month to help raise public trust in the newly-approved shot.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is the third to be approved by federal health regulators. Unlike the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the Johnson & Johnson version only requires one shot.
The vaccine was found to be 66 percent effective at preventing moderate to severe cases of COVID-19 across the world, and 72 percent effective in the U.S. When looking at severe cases only, it was 85 percent effective.
The mayor said he is choosing the Johnson & Johnson vaccine so the public can know that it is safe.
"The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is safe and effective, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is easier for our health care community to use because it requires less refrigeration, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine takes only one dose and you're done," de Blasio said. "I have total faith in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and that's why it's now in my arm."
City officials say the best vaccine is the one you can get now.
The mayor got the shot a day after Gov. Andrew Cuomo also received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at a pop-up site in Harlem.
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