As NY Vaccination Rate Declines By 55%, New Incentive Announced

LONG ISLAND, NY — As the vaccination rate plummeted 55 percent across New York in a "troubling trend," Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a new incentive Monday to boost shots in arms.

Speaking from Jones Beach, Cuomo described "A Shot In the Park": Anyone who gets vaccinated with either a first dose, or single dose of Johnson & Johnson, anywhere in New York between May 24 and 31 is eligible to receive a free two-day pass to any New York State Park, valid through Sept. 30.

In addition, pop-up sites will be set up by Northwell Health at the 16 New York state parks over Memorial Day weekend, and anyone who is vaccinated at those sites will get the two-day state park pass.

The incentive follows others, including free lottery tickets, free train rides and free tickets, as well seating without social distancing at some ball games.

State parks have seen rejuvenation during the pandemic, Cuomo said. "People have discovered our state parks," he said. Last year, 78 million people visited state parks, a new record; on Long Island, 32 million people headed to state park facilities, Cuomo aid.

The effort is meant to combat plummeting vaccination rates, Cuomo said: With New York's statewide coronavirus positivity rate at 1.09 percent, and with 14 deaths reported, 64 percent of New Yorkers now have at least one vaccination, Cuomo said. And on Long Island, 69 percent of residents have had at least one shot, the highest rate in New York, he added. But others need to follow suit, he said. As it stands, vaccination rates have dropped below 100,000 per day, Cuomo said.

"It's not over," Cuomo said. "We are managing it by what we are doing, and the tool is the vaccination."