Health & Fitness

NYC Hits 1M COVID Vaccine Boosters As It Readies For Omicron

Mayor Bill de Blasio said New Yorkers should get their boosters as omicron and holidays near: "This is the time."

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A sign urges people to get the COVID-19 vaccine at the Staten Island Ferry terminal on Monday.
A sign urges people to get the COVID-19 vaccine at the Staten Island Ferry terminal on Monday. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

NEW YORK CITY — More than 1 million New Yorkers have rolled up their sleeves for a coronavirus vaccine boosters, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

And timing could be important — just hours after de Blasio announced the milestone Wednesday, officials in California said they detected the first omicron coronavirus case in the United States.

De Blasio highlighted another reason to get a booster: the holidays.

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"Listen, this is the time, get that booster before the holiday season, before any gathering," he said.

So far, no omicron cases have been detected in New York.

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But officials predict it's only a matter of time before it reaches the city and state.

"We expected the Omicron variant to come to the United States," Gov. Kathy Hochul tweeted. "We are continuing to monitor Omicron & as of right now, there are no confirmed cases in New York State."

Researchers still don't know how effective COVID-19 vaccines will be against the omicron variant, but city health officials recommend getting vaccinated and boosters.

Unvaccinated New Yorkers remain at significantly higher risk for infection, hospitalization and death compared to those who received the vaccine, said Dave Chokshi, the city's health commissioner. He said it's remarkably effective against the delta variant, which is the current dominant virus strain.

" When it comes to cases, unvaccinated New Yorkers are seven times more likely to be infected in this era of when delta is dominant compared to vaccinated New Yorkers," he said. "So, our message remains very clear, get vaccinated and get your booster."

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