NYC Surpasses 2M Coronavirus Vaccine Shots

NEW YORK CITY — New York City’s coronavirus vaccination effort surpassed 2 million doses that went into arms — a milestone achieved amid persistent supply woes.

And the city is poised to get even more COVID-19 doses. The first shipments of a Johnson & Johnson-developed vaccine — the third vaccine now approved and available — are expected this week.

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday spotlighted breaking news that drugmaker Merck & Co. will help produce its rival Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine in an effort to expand supply more quickly.

“This is an example of getting it right,” he said.

De Blasio’s announcement that the city hit 2 million doses is a sign that it can vaccinate many more New Yorkers despite weekly supply shortfalls.

The city is on pace to hit 5 million doses by June — a goal that likely will be buoyed by Johnson & Johnson’s expected 100 million doses nationwide by the end of that month.

De Blasio and city health leaders reassured New Yorkers that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine — which is a single dose — is effective against COVID-19. He said he plans to get that vaccine rather than the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

“I want to show people it's the right choice and I for one look forward to only getting one shot rather than two,” de Blasio said. ‘Not because I can't handle shots but because of the schedule and everything else.”

Dave Chokshi, the city’s health commissioner, said the first shipments of Johnson & Johnson vaccine will arrive Wednesday or Thursday.

De Blasio called on the federal government to use the Defense Production Act to produce even more vaccine doses and asked the state to expand the categories of New Yorkers eligible for shots.

Sanitation workers, district attorneys and courtroom staff, lifeguards, among others, should receive the vaccine if the city is to fully reopen, de Blasio said.

Officials also announced plans to open a new vaccination site Thursday at Co-op City in the Bronx.