City Sets Ambitious Goal of 1 Million Doses Administered in January

December 31, 2020

Tough goal can be achieved with more support and regulatory relief 

NEW YORK—Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced his ambitious New Year’s resolution for  New York City: administering 1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses by the end of January. With the City’s new three-point plan to double its weekly capacity, and additional support from all levels of government and private partners, the City could increase the pace and scale of its vaccination effort to make this target achievable. This goal cannot be hit by the City alone, without expanded support and increased coordination at every level of government.

“Like any good New Year’s resolution, one million doses by the end of January is an ambitious goal to say the least,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We are doing everything we can to vaccinate as many New Yorkers as possible, but to really pick up the pace, we need our federal and state partners on board—and fast. It will be tough, but I believe that we can do it.”

With the Vaccine Command Center helping to manage, triage, and coordinate the effort, the City aims to double its weekly capacity for vaccination—from hospitals, to community health care centers, to urgent care clinics—through a three-pronged plan. First, COVID-19 Vaccine Hubs will be launched across the city in January, where New Yorkers in neighborhoods across the city will ultimately  be able to go to access a vaccine. Conveniently located NYC Heath + Hospitals COVID-19 testing sites will also serve as vaccination centers, in addition to continuing to provide ongoing  COVID-19 testing. The City is also calling on local organizations to scale up their capacity to administer vaccines quicker.

While the City is building out its capacity to ramp up vaccinations, continued and increased assistance from the State, Federal government, and private partners is needed to truly achieve these goals, including:

• Receiving more concrete and comprehensive guidance in advance so that NYC can expand the number of eligible New Yorkers
• Ensuring supply of the vaccine remains consistent, allowing the City to expand its reach to vaccinate more New Yorkers
• Private partners: pick up pace of getting shots into arms and increase ability to offer more vaccines to more New Yorkers every day and every week

With all these pieces in play, this New Year’s Resolution is ambitious, but achievable.

“These goals are ambitious and tough, but not impossible, provided we get the support and teamwork we need from all our partners in this fight,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Melanie Hartzog. “We’re not rosy-eyed – we  know hitting the mark here hinges on several moving pieces working together and lots going right. That’s why we’re focused on doing everything we can to create a viable pathway to achieving it, bringing as many partners to the table as possible in the process in hopes of reaching as many New Yorkers as we can as quickly as possible.”

“These are ambitious goals, but we must be bold about turning vaccines into vaccinations swiftly—because it will save lives,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi. “One key is doubling points of access for vaccination across our entire City, including not just hospitals but also community health centers, urgent care clinics, pharmacies, and dedicated vaccine hubs.”