NYC On The Brink Of 8-Million Dose Vaccine Milestone, Mayor Says

NEW YORK, NY — New York City is about to hit another milestone in its vaccine effort, just in time for the start of a summer campaign to get the shot to more New Yorkers.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday that New York City can expect to hit 8 million total vaccine doses by the end of the day, the latest million marker since it started handing out shots in December. The number of doses administered stood at 7.999 million at the time of the mayor's press conference.

"Today, we are right on the edge of another milestone — it will undoubtedly occur today," de Blasio said. "Talk about the need for us to all heal and move forward, here’s an example of it in real time. This vaccination effort involved tens of thousands of people helping their fellow New Yorkers."

The milestone comes as de Blasio unveils a summer campaign to reach New Yorkers who have yet to get their coronavirus vaccine.

The latest effort will bring mobile vaccine buses to New York City's beaches and major parks. The buses will correspond with the opening of the city's beaches on Memorial Day Weekend.

The mayor also touted yet another incentive for New Yorkers who get the shot — the chance to win free tickets to a New York Knicks game.

The Madison Square Garden rollout comes after a similar ticket lottery at the Barclays Center's vaccination site for the Brooklyn Nets.

The city has also set up vaccine sites at several New York City museums in the hopes of spurring more people to get the shot.

As of the beginning of May, shots had slowed by more than half since the city's vaccination peak, prompting de Blasio and other officials to begin an incentive campaign.