NYC Brings COVID Vaccine Into Schools To Get More Youth Doses

NEW YORK CITY — The next phase in New York City's coronavirus vaccination effort will unfold in schools.

A pilot program offering in-school vaccination sites for New Yorkers between 12 and 17 launches this week, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday.

"We’ll start schools on Friday, expanding over the days ahead,” he said. “We will be in all five boroughs in schools vaccinating kids — select locations, not everywhere yet — but select locations.”

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And it appears the city's youth and their families are willing to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

More than 118,000 New Yorkers between 12 and 17 have received at least one dose of vaccine since they became eligible, de Blasio said.

"What’s interesting and positive so far is New York City is outpacing the nation at vaccinating our youngest people,” he said.

The in-school vaccination program kicks off Friday at four Bronx schools, de Blasio said. The effort will expand to some schools — but, again, not all — in the five boroughs by the end of the school year, he said.

Council Member Mark Levine, who appeared during de Blasio's daily briefing, said schools inherently offer advantages for vaccination efforts. He said they already have records of how old children are, have experience getting parental consent and maintain the trust of families.

"It’s just a great venue to expand vaccination options for young people,” he said.

The city will also be rolling out its mobile vaccination van to a series of vaccination block parties for youth, de Blasio said. And he said a family-oriented vaccination site will open at New York Aquarium.

“When you get your vaccination at the New York Aquarium, you get a ticket for a future visit,” he said.