'Mmm, Vaccination': Mayor Chows Down On Shake Shack

NEW YORK CITY — New Yorkers' coronavirus vaccinations now come with a side of free Shake Shack — and Mayor Bill de Blasio stuffed his face to prove it.

"Mmm, vaccination," de Blasio said Thursday with a mouthful of ShackBurger.

The rollicking, if greasy, daily briefing and burger breakfast from Hizzoner featured the latest round of incentives for New Yorkers who roll up their sleeves for the shot.

Shake Shack founder and CEO Randy Garutti appeared from the burger joint's famous original location in Madison Square Park to outline the deal: free burgers or chicken sandwiches for New Yorkers who get shots from mobile vaccine buses in the next few days.

"Even better than that, our 25 shacks around New York City: anytime you go for the next month, you're there grabbing your burger your chicken sandwich, show us your vaccine card," he said. "We'll get you a free fries on us to say, thank you."

The city has so far distributed 7.28 million doses of coronavirus vaccine — a staggering amount by any measure but at a pace that has been slowing dramatically.

The slowing pace prompted recent rounds of incentives — from Yankee or Mets tickets, seven-day subway passes, to free visits to the Bronx Zoo and Brooklyn Botanic Gardens — aimed at enticing hesitant New Yorkers to get the shots.

Most incentives were focused on turning unvaccinated city dwellers into vaccinated New Yorkers. The Shake Shack offers past recipients a — as Garutti put it — "thank you" in the form of crinkly fries.

Shake Shack's offer is valid until June 12 at 11 p.m., according to a company release. New Yorkers have to show proof of vaccination either through a vaccine card or an Excelsior pass and purchase a burger or chicken sandwich in-store, rather than app, web or delivery.

De Blasio, who has increasingly leaned into gimmicky stunts late in his final term, showed clear excitement about the offer.

"I want to note that I have been refraining from eating the hamburger further during this press conference, but I will address the situation immediately following the press conference," he said.

Get vaccinated and you too can have a burger for breakfast. You've earned it! https://t.co/pDbx60ytUh
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) May 13, 2021