City councilor Mark Levine said Thursday that the Javits Center, which is run by the state, was the most popular vaccination center in the city.
The city councilor announced on his Twitter account that about 6,000 appointments for the Pfizer vaccine had opened at midnight for ages 16 and older.
However, as of Thursday morning, Levine said almost all appointments stayed, including 1,000 for Friday.
Almost all of these appointments are still available – including more than 1000 for tomorrow.
This is the most popular vaccination center in NYC. Until now, apps were often gone within minutes.
This is a very worrying development. https://t.co/yZ62vM0LLg
– Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) April 15, 2021
“This is a very worrying development,” he said.
Levine called it a “tipping point” in the effort to vaccinate residents of New York City.
NYC has hit a tipping point in vaccination.
After months of intense competition for apps, slots are now filling up much more slowly.
Our challenge is no longer crushing demand management. It brings vax to people who need it and builds confidence in this life-saving solution.
– Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) April 15, 2021
“After months of intense competition for appts, slots are now filling much more slowly. Our challenge is no longer controlling demand. It brings vax to people who need it and builds confidence in this life-saving solution,” tweeted Levine.
He urged people to help get the word out and offer to help others make arrangements.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said the available appointments were not a sign of a decrease in demand or a problem in encouraging people to book vaccinations.
“I love that there are a lot of appointments for people and they are easier to get,” he said. “I am so much happier with the situation where people can quickly make an appointment.”
He added that the more you can make it easy, simple, and close to people, the more they will be involved in the process.
“I agree with the mayor in the description that it is a good thing,” said Dr. Dave Chokshi, NYC Health Commissioner. “There’s a longer window now, not too long, hours or in some cases a day or two before they fill up.”
Dr. Chokshi said it now gives the city the ability to reach the people they really want to reach, and not just those who are tech savvy.
He noted that the city’s hotline, 1-877-VAX-4NYC, has made arrangements for those who prefer to use the phone instead of booking their COVID vaccination online.
“We don’t consider demand as a static phenomenon,” Chokshi said. Noting the city’s plan to increase access, reach and confidence.
The Javits Center has stopped using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, while a CDC advisory panel is reviewing six cases of blood clotting in patients. Those who show up for Javits Center appointments will receive the Pfizer COVID vaccine.
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