Crown Heights ZIP Codes Among Lowest Vaccination Rates In State

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — A surge in resources is coming to two Crown Heights ZIP codes that have been identified as having some of the lowest vaccination rates in the state, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The governor announced a plan Monday to have the state and local governments double down on their effort to reach New Yorkers in 25 ZIP codes that see the lowest percentage of adults who have gotten at least their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

The list of ZIP codes includes seven in Brooklyn, which, along with the Bronx, has lagged behind the other three boroughs since the start of New York's vaccine distribution.

Among them are 11213 and 11233, which both cover an eastern portion of Crown Heights. Nearby 11212 in Brownsville also made the list.

"I want everybody focusing on these ZIP codes...that is where we have the greatest chance for advancement," Cuomo said.

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The focus areas come as Cuomo aims to lift all remaining coronavirus restrictions when 70 percent of New York's adults have gotten at least their first dose of the vaccine. As of Monday, that rate stood at 68.6 percent statewide, according to the governor.

In the 25 ZIP codes on the watchlist, vaccination rates are all below 36 percent, Cuomo said.

The eastern portion of Crown Heights has consistently had the lowest vaccine rates in the neighborhood. City numbers, which differ slightly from Cuomo's state data, put the western ZIP codes 11216 and 11225's vaccine rates at 61 percent and 57 percent, respectively, as of Monday.

The governor suggested local governments pool resources that may not be needed elsewhere to areas with the low vaccine rates. The number of New Yorkers coming to get their shots has dwindled across the state as the number of New Yorkers who have not yet gotten the shot shrinks, he said.

"We don’t have enough people coming in to vaccination centers to justify having the centers open — Right now, we have centers open all day and two, there, four people show up," he said. "So, redeploy those assets to these ZIP codes because that’s where you can make a difference."

The Brooklyn ZIP codes are among 11 New York City ZIP codes on the state list.

In Brooklyn, ZIP codes in Marine Park, Williamsburg, Canarsie and Borough Park also made the list, along with Far Rockaway and Edgemere in Queens and Marine Park and Hunt's Point in the Bronx.