Vaccine for All: NYC Kicks Off "Youth Vax Week"

June 2, 2021

NEW YORK—Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced the start “​NYC Youth Vax Week,” a week-long initiative to combat misinformation regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and encourage parents and guardians to allow their children 12 years and older to get the authorized Pfizer vaccine.

"New York City is outpacing the nation in vaccinating our youngest residents, and our outreach to younger New Yorkers is only just beginning," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "Whether it's the New York Aquarium, the Bronx Zoo, or the classroom, we're going to reach kids everywhere. The more New Yorkers who get vaccinated and protect one another, the closer we will be to moving on from this pandemic and getting back to the people and the activities that we love."

“Making sure our younger New Yorkers and their parents and guardians have the right information about the COVID-19 vaccine is critical in making them feel comfortable to get the safe, effective, and life-saving vaccine,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Melanie Hartzog. “We’re grateful for all of our City and community partners who are in this with us and are helping to make our City and residents safer through the vaccine.”

The City will host 'Youth Vax Block Parties' at popular parks in each borough. The parties will each have a vaccine bus providing the Pfizer vaccine stationed in its proximity, and families can enjoy food, music and other activities.

NYC Youth Vax Week mobile vaccine buses will be stationed in the following locations:

Brooklyn

• Coney Island, 1310 Surf Avenue (June 5th - June 6th, 11:00AM - 7:00 PM)
• Marcy Plaza (Across Restoration Plaza), Marcy Ave and Fulton St (June 3rd - June 4th, 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM)
• Brooklyn Museum, 150 Eastern Parkway (June 2nd - June 4th, 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM)

Queens

• Corona Plaza, 40-12 National Street (June 1st- June 54, 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM)
• Rockaway Beach/Beach 84 (June 5th - June 6th, 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM)
• Travers Park, @ 34th Ave Open Streets in front of Travers Park 78-1 34th Avenue (June 3rd- June 6th, 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM )
• Jackson Heights, 73-21A Broadway (June 1st- June 4th, 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM)

Manhattan

• Marcus Garvey Park, 27 East 124th Street (June 5th - June 7th, 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM)
• Lower East Side/Van Gogh Exhibit, Pier 36, 299 South St, Manhattan (June 4th - June 6th, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM)

Bronx

• Orchard Beach, Park Drive (June 5th - June 6th, 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM)
• Crotona Park - Boxcar Playground, Crotona Park East & Charlotte Street (June 5th - June 7th, 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM)
• Fordham Plaza, 1 Fordham Plaza (June 1st - June 3rd, 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM)

Staten Island

• Tappen Park (June 3rd- June 6th, 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM)

Additional mobile vans will also be stationed at the following locations:

• Herbert Von King Park, Street Parking by 670 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn (May 31st - June 1st; June 3rd - June 6th 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM)
• Red Hook Park, Corner of Bay Street and Columbia Street, Brooklyn (June 3rd - June 5th; 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM)
• Grand Army Plaza, Pedestrian Plaza at Grand Army Plaza Entrance to Prospect Plaza, Brooklyn (June 6th; 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM)
• Kissena Corridor Park,Corner of Colden Street and Geranium Avenue, Queens (June 6th, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM)
• Cunningham Park, Corner of 193rd Street and Aberdeen Road, Queens (June 3rd - June 4th; June 5th - June 6th 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM)
• Wolfe's Pond Beach, Wolfe's Pond Park Chester St, Staten Island (June 3rd - June 5th, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM)

To find the nearest COVID-19 vaccine site carrying the Pfizer vaccine, you can visit https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/ or call 844-VAX-4NYC.

“We are all longing for a normal life and this is especially true for our young people. With the launch of Youth Vax Week, which we have promoted through DYCD’s Barbershop Talks, our youth and their families will connect directly with health experts to learn about the COVID-19 vaccine and its benefits. Getting vaccinated will enable young people to get back to everyday life and to meet friends and family while protecting themselves and their loved ones in time for the summer and the start of the new school year,” said DYCD Commissioner Bill Chong.

“Vaccination offers young people a chance to more safely enjoy the summer,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi. “​NYC Youth Vax Week is a fun kick-off to the season—but also a chance to answer questions from young people and their parents or guardians about the safe and highly effective Pfizer vaccine.”

“Our youth are the future of New York City, and no recovery from COVID-19 is complete without keeping them safe by getting them vaccinated,” said Dr. Ted Long, Executive Director of the NYC Test & Trace Corps and Senior Vice President for Ambulatory Care and Population Health at NYC Health + Hospitals. “As we focus on young people with the launch of ​ NYC Youth Vax Week, I urge all families to bring their children 12 years and older to get vaccinated, so that we can all enjoy a safe Summer of NYC.”

“To build a just recovery for all, we must ensure that our immigrant youth and families have the information and support they need to get the COVID-19 vaccine. ​NYCYouth Vax Week will offer them a full week of fun, culturally relevant experiences and direct outreach that will help to make our city safer and healthier. MOIA is proud to support this effort with on-the-ground support in immigrant communities across the city, as we continue working with our partners for an equitable recovery for immigrant families,” said May Malik, Deputy Commissioner for the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.

 "Vaccines are the best tool we have to fully end the COVID-19 pandemic, and the best way to get people vaccinated is to make it as simple and easy as possible,” said New York State Senator Brad Hoylman.“Youth Vax Week’s block parties and vaccine busses will bring these life-saving shots to children who only recently became eligible. I appreciate all the ways the City has creatively brought vaccines to where people are and bring New York closer to herd immunity."

“COVID-19 rates have been decreasing since more individuals have been vaccinated,” said New York State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud. “Providing youth with the ability to be vaccinated will aid in the decrease in rates. The Youth Vax Week initiative gives youth the ability to be on board with this initiative and improves our public health.”

 “As we continue to move forward in hopes of fully reopening NYC, I welcome the City’s week of events to get our young people vaccinated, including in my neighborhood of Washington Heights! By creating fun and safe spaces, these events will help combat misinformation around the COVID-19 vaccine and focus on increasing vaccination rates among youth as we enter New York’s come-back summer,” said New York State Senator Robert Jackson.

“Now that kids age 12 and older are eligible, it is critical we think creatively to ensure more of our youth have access COVID19 vaccine and can start their summer’s healthy and protected. I applaud the work of the Mayor’s Office is doing to get vaccines to our families and youth—meeting communities where they are to help stop the spread,” said New York State Senator Jessica Ramos.

“It is clear to us now that coronavirus can impact our younger people as well,” said Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas. “As a parent and as a legislator it is important to me that our communities have all the facts necessary to make informed healthcare decisions. I’m grateful to the organizations and the Mayor’s office for their kickoff of Youth Vax Week. The more informed our communities are the safer we can be.”

"The COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective and now that the Pfizer vaccine is approved for children 12 and above, Mayor de Blasio's plan to expand outreach will be an important tool to increase the New York vaccination rate and protecting more New Yorkers," said Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried.

“Getting vaccinated is how we defeat this deadly pandemic. I welcome Youth Vax Week and the community spirit it encourages, as young people step up to do their part in preventing Covid-19 from spreading and causing harm in our shared communities. Thanks to all those making this event possible, and thanks to all those helping to stop this virus," said Council Member Robert E. Cornegy, Jr.

"We’ve made incredible strides with getting more of our Corona/11368 community vaccinated - from being at the bottom of the list to moving up significantly with 50% of adults fully vaccinated. We're not out of the woods yet and part of ensuring the families hardest hit by COVID-19 are protected is making vaccination accessible to our youth. I encourage families to join us for 'Youth Vax Week' and during Friday's block party at Corona Plaza to get all ages 12 and up vaccinated," said Council Member Francisco Moya.