As New York City contends with a concerning uptick in COVID-19 cases, driven by the Delta variant, Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams announced a partnership with NYC Test & Trace Corps Executive Director, Dr. Ted Long, to bring a mobile vaccine van to Brooklyn Borough Hall each Wednesday from Aug. 11 to Aug. 25.
This new mobile vaccine van helps to meet people where they are, and we’re proud to host them here at Brooklyn Borough Hall. We thank Dr. Long, and the NYC Test & Trace Corps for their extraordinary efforts during this pandemic, and for their partnership,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
The vaccine van will offer free shots of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine outside of Borough Hall each Wednesday between 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. No appointment is needed, and anyone aged 12 or older is eligible to get a shot. Any form of identification will be accepted, including a national passport or consular ID.
The politician said data from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) shows that the Delta variant now accounts for 83 percent of all positive COVID-19 samples studied, up from 72 percent in the previous report.
As of the most recent data, the seven-day average citywide infection rate has risen to 3.28 percent, up from 2.29 percent on July 22.
Borough President Adams and Dr. Long stressed that the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from a serious case of COVID-19, including the new variant, is to get vaccinated. 61.2 percent of New Yorkers have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the most recent data from DOHMH.
According to the report, Brooklyn lags the citywide rate, with 54 percent of residents having gotten at least one shot. The infection rate is rising fastest in areas with the lowest vaccination rates, underscoring the need for all New Yorkers to get a shot as soon as possible.
“COVID-19 is a formidable opponent, and New Yorkers should take this new Delta variant very seriously. But we have a powerful weapon on our side: vaccines. We need every New Yorker to get their shot as soon as possible.
“Our mobile vaccination units continue to bring no-cost vaccines to communities across the city most in need and tear down barriers of access to this life-saving medicine. Getting vaccinated is the single best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from the highly contagious Delta variant and defeat this virus once and for all.
“I encourage New Yorkers to come down to Borough Hall or call 1-877-VAX-4NYC to find the most convenient vaccine location, and I thank Borough President Adams for partnering with us to bring vaccinations to the heart of downtown Brooklyn,” said NYC Test & Trace Corps Executive Director and NYC Health + Hospitals Senior Vice President for Ambulatory Care and Population Health Dr. Ted Long.
