More Than 10,000 Vaccinations Administered to-Date at 11 locations Across New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley
Successful Program Will Run Through Saturday, May 29
Everyone Getting One Dose Vaccine at MTA Sites is Eligible Receive a Free 7-Day MetroCard or Round Trip LIRR or Metro-North Ticket
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that its successful public vaccination program will be extended through Saturday, May 29 at Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal, the program's most popular sites. The program, first announced by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, has administered more than 10,000 vaccinations to date at locations throughout New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley since May 12. The program will continue to administer the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine and has the capacity to serve up to 300 people per day on a walk-in, no-appointment basis.
Anyone, New Yorker or tourist, is eligible to receive the vaccine at either of these locations. Individuals planning on being vaccinated are encouraged to allow for approximately 20 minutes of additional time in their commute to accommodate the vaccination process. Incentives to get vaccinated at the locations include a free 7-day MetroCard or free round-trip Long Island Rail Road or Metro-North ticket.
"By bringing the vaccine to where people are passing by on their way to work, see friends, shop and visit reopened cultural attractions, it's made it possible for thousands who might not have otherwise been vaccinated to protect themselves and their families," said MTA Chairman and CEO Patrick Foye. "That's made NYC and the region safer."
“The MTA is doing its part to ensure as many people as possible get vaccinated and New York can get back on track,” said MTA Chief Safety Officer Patrick Warren. “By expanding this program at two of the Authority’s busiest locations, more people will have access to this vaccine and can protect themselves and others as riders continue to return to mass transit.”
Digital messaging will run on more than 12,000 screens at MTA stations, onboard train cars, and buses to promote the site locations and hours of operation. Promotional content will be pushed to more than 3 million followers across MTA social media platforms. Wayfinding signage will be produced and posted at station pop-up locations to help ensure proper traffic flow. Information will also be available on the MTA website.
The continuation of these sites comes as the MTA announced steadily increasing ridership on the New York City Subway, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad, with 2,263,694 trips on the New York City Subway (including 4,434 on the Staten Island Railway), 1,155,249 on New York City Buses, 106,604 on the LIRR, and 82,738 Metro-North trips recorded on Thursday, May 20.