COVID-19 ALERT: Find COVID-19 Testing Sites. COVID-19 Vaccine Info. New Visitor Policy. Make a Donation.
Vaccine for All: NYC Test & Trace Corps and the New York Mets Celebrate Citi Field Vaccination Team’s Nearly 300,000 Vaccinations
Apr 20, 2022
The New York City Test & Trace Corps and New York Mets President Sandy Alderson announced today that the Citi Field vaccination site has administered nearly 300,000 vaccinations, the most of any New York City-run site. To celebrate the NYC Test & Trace Corps’ critical work, the New York Mets will host a Citi Field Vaccination Team Appreciation Game when they face the San Francisco Giants tonight at 7 p.m.
“The healthcare heroes at the Citi Field vaccination site stepped up to the plate to lead New York City’s vaccine efforts, which have provided 97 percent of the city’s adults with at least one dose of the vaccine,” said New York City Mayor Adams. “Thanks to their tireless efforts, and the willingness of so many New Yorkers to protect themselves and their communities by getting vaccinated, we can safely get back to our ballparks and other venues that make New York City great.”
“We’re thrilled to have worked with all our elected officials, the NYC Test & Trace Corps and first responders in making Citi Field a primary vaccination destination that’s had a significant impact in New York’s recovery from COVID,” said Mets Owner, Chairman and CEO Steve Cohen. “Assisting and promoting the health and safety of our communities is a responsibility our organization takes very seriously, and we are grateful for all the collaboration with the many heroes that help keep us safe.”
“Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers are safer today because of the staff at our Citi Field vaccination site, who provided round-the-clock access for anyone to walk in or make an appointment and receive the life-saving protection of a COVID vaccine,” said Senior Vice President of Ambulatory Care and Population Health at New York City Health + Hospitals and NYC Test & Trace Corps Executive Director Dr. Ted Long. “We are entering the late innings of the pandemic and, thanks to vaccines, have the tools we need to win. I urge New Yorkers who are still unvaccinated or those who are eligible for boosters to keep their eye on the ball and get those shots today.”
The NYC Test & Trace Corps in partnership with the New York Mets opened the Citi Field mass vaccination site in February 2021 to provide 24/7 vaccination access to New Yorkers and residents of Queens. At its peak, the site vaccinated an average of 1,200 New Yorkers per day. The mass vaccination site closed in early March, and continued to provide vaccinations from two mobile vaccination units stationed dedicatedly at the same location until April 9.
Since the opening of the Citi Field vaccination site, a total of 292,727 vaccinations have been administered to 161,669 people, including over 150,000 New Yorkers. There have been 22 days when the site has vaccinated over 2,000 New Yorkers, with a single day peak of 2,501 vaccinated on April 19, 2021.
Residents of Queens comprised 87% of first and second dose vaccinations given at Citi Field. 38% of recipients were Latino New Yorkers and 31% were Asian New Yorkers. Nearly 29% of vaccination recipients were walk-ins.
The Mets prepared a commemorative video to honor the work the Citi Field vaccination team has done and celebrate the site’s tremendous and critical success. The video will be played on the stadium’s jumbotron at 6:50 p.m. prior to the ceremonial first pitch.
The first pitch of the Citi Field Vaccination Team Appreciation Game will be thrown by Shifra Goldenberg, the NYC Test & Trace Corps’ Senior Manager of Site and Service Implementation.
“The staff at Citi Field were there for their fellow New Yorkers right off the bat, working at all hours of the day, seven days a week, to provide over a year of constant, convenient access to vaccinations,” said Shifra Goldenberg, NYC Test & Trace Corps Senior Manager of Site and Service Implementation and Director of Implementation for the Office of Ambulatory Care and Population Health at NYC Health + Hospitals. “Their dedication to this critical mission made Citi a trusted destination for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. The countless thank you messages they left upon our Vaccine Gratitude Wall rallied us forward, reminding us of the people we helped day after day.”
Patients leave thank you messages and acknowledgments for healthcare workers on Citi Field’s Vaccine Gratitude Wall.
New Yorkers ages 12 and up can make an appointment at nyc.gov/vaccinefinder or by calling 877-VAX-4NYC. If you are interested in receiving the vaccine in the comfort of your home, please register here or call 1-877-VAX-4NYC to arrange an appointment.