Yankees legend Mariano Rivera came in on Friday as the Bronx Bombers’ home was being transformed into a COVID-19 vaccination mega facility.
“I love it. It’s my house. It’s huge to be here in the Bronx,” Rivera told reporters outside Yankee Stadium as hundreds of locals lined up to get the first shot of the coveted two-dose coronavirus vaccine. to get.
Rivera added, “Don’t be afraid [to get the vaccine]. “
‘We don’t get it, we’re in trouble. If we get it, we’re going to save lives, ”said the Hall of Famer of the vaccine.
Rivera later appeared – alongside Yankees president Randy Levine and Yankees manager Aaron Boone – at the Andrew Cuomo government press conference in Albany via live stream.
‘It is wonderful what you do. I used to throw and save games here and now it’s about saving lives, ”Rivera said as he spoke from Yankee Stadium.
“This is bigger than baseball. We’re talking about hundreds and millions of people,” the baseball player continued. “I see so many smiling faces, that’s what it’s all about. Hope is the name of the game right now.”
Levine said in order to “encourage” locals to come out and get vaccinated at the stadium, Yankees will be handed out “trinkets”.
“This is bigger than baseball. This is a bigger goal than baseball. We are so honored to work with you,” Levine told Cuomo.
Cuomo applauded Rivera for expressing his support for the vaccination effort.
The words you just used, that you saved games in that stadium and are now saving lives – truer words have never been spoken. This vaccine saves lives, ”said the governor.
“This vaccine can save their lives and your presence today will bring that message to many people because they trust and respect you.”
The stadium’s massive vaccination site officially opened at 8 a.m. on Friday – through a partnership with the city, state, Yankees, SOMOS Community Care and the New York National Guard – after weeks of delays due to vaccine shortages.
Appointments to be stung on the site are reserved for residents of the Bronx – the municipality with the highest coronavirus positivity rate in the city.
Officials say the site can process 15,000 appointments in the first week.
Shortly after Friday afternoon, Mayor Bill de Blasio also visited the grounds and spoke to reporters outside, in addition to Rivera, Levine and Boone.
“This is an important moment. This is about equality. This is about fairness, ”said de Blasio. “The Bronx is one of the places to suffer from this coronavirus crisis.”
“Yankee Stadium means so much to New Yorkers,” he said. “Today it is a place of healing, a place of protection for the people of the Bronx.”
The mayor, a well-known Boston Red Sox fan, even wore a Yankees cap for the occasion.
“For just one day, I’ll declare myself a Yankees fan,” said Hizzoner.
Meanwhile, de Blasio said the planned mass vaccination hub at Citi Field Stadium in Queens “will come in a few days.”
“We need [vaccine] stock, ”said de Blasio. “I want people to understand that New York City is now giving one-third of the vaccinations we could get if we had the supply.”
“I am very concerned that we could do 400,000, 500,000 vaccinations a week, and we cannot get supplies,” he said. “I am telling the federal government to involve the rest of the pharmaceutical industry in this fight.”
Hours earlier, Spike Lee made a surprising morning visit to the stadium and chatted with locals lining up to get the COVID-19 vaccine.