NYC New Year's Resolution: 1 Million Vaccinations In January

NEW YORK, NY — Mayor Bill de Blasio's New Year's resolution will be to put the city's coronavirus vaccine mission into "overdrive."

The mayor announced Thursday that the city will start 2021 with an aggressive goal of reaching 1 million New Yorkers with a dose of the coronavirus vaccine in January. As of New Year's Eve, only about 88,000 New Yorkers had received their first shot.

"It's going to take a lot of work," de Blasio said. "[But] we're making it clear to the world we can achieve the million vaccinations in January. We've got to go faster and New York City will lead the way."

De Blasio said the million-dose goal will depend on help from both the federal and state government, and the manufacturers, to ensure New York keeps getting its shipments of vaccines.

For its part, the city will work on doubling the number of places New Yorkers can get vaccinated in the next month.

The city's Health Department aims to set up 250 or more locations citywide by January, including "vaccine hubs" in areas hardest hit by the coronavirus that can give out 45,000 doses in a single day. Those "hubs" will be set up in spaces like school gyms, Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi said.

Test and Trace sites across the city will also be turned into vaccine distribution sites, officials said.

De Blasio said Thursday that more information will be available soon about which New Yorkers will qualify to help the city reach 1 million. So far, only healthcare workers, nursing home residents and staff and, most recently, first responders are in line for the first phase of vaccinations.