First-Of-Its-Kind Vaccine Bus On Its Way To Brooklyn, Mayor Says

BROOKLYN, NY — All aboard the vaccination bus.

A new first-of-its-kind mobile vaccine clinic will be set up in Sunset Park on Wednesday as part of the latest effort by the city to reach vulnerable New Yorkers who have yet to get their coronavirus vaccine, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday.

"This is an approach that is going to help us reach a lot of people that are being missed so far," de Blasio said. "This will take the vaccinations right to them."

The vaccine bus— set up to give 200 one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccines per day — will spend its first week focusing on getting restaurant workers and restaurant delivery workers vaccinated.

It was launched with help from the nonprofit Relief Opportunities for all Restaurants (ROAR), de Blasio said.

Around 12 percent of Sunset Park residents work in the restaurant and bar industry, the second-highest of anywhere in New York City, according to a Center for an Urban Future study.

It comes as vaccine eligibility opens to all adults over the age of 16 in New York.

The bus includes six exam rooms, an ADA-accessible lift and will have staff who speak English, Spanish, Mandarin and Cantonese.

It is the latest and largest addition to New York City's mobile vaccine fleet, which includes 20 vans throughout the city.

“This bus will tear down barriers to getting vaccinated by bringing the vaccine, hundreds of doses a day, literally to your doorstep,” said Executive Director of the NYC Test & Trace Corps Ted Long. "...With this new mobile bus that we can drive anywhere in the city — plus our 20 mobile vans that we have today — New York City’s vaccine effort is truly on the move."