20,447 People Vaccinated at MTA Pop-Up Sites Since May 12 Launch; 10,000 Vaccinations Administered in Last Four Weeks Alone
Popular Program Extended Through June 26 at Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station
Anyone Who Receives One-Dose Vaccine at MTA Sites Eligible to Receive Free 7-Day MetroCard or Round Trip LIRR or Metro-North Ticket
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that 20,447 vaccinations have been administered through their pop-up vaccination sites to-date. The program, first announced by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, launched on May 12 at eight stations across New York City Transit, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad, offering the public the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The program provides anyone, including those visiting New York, the opportunity to get vaccinated without needing to set an appointment and with the added incentive of a free 7-day MetroCard or free round-trip Long Island Rail Road or Metro-North ticket.
The program will now continue through at least June 26 at Grand Central and Penn Station. Under the program’s initial two-week rollout more than 10,000 vaccinations were administered under the program’s initial two-week rollout. Following that success, pop-up sites at Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station--the two most popular locations--were extended. An additional 10,000 vaccinations have been administered at Grand Central and Penn Station since then.
“Keeping the vaccine easily accessible is vital to New York maintaining a strong vaccination rate,” said Patrick Foye, MTA Chairman and CEO. “With New York City’s reopening, and ridership recovering, these pop-up sites at two of the busiest locations in the system remain an effective tool in getting the New York City region fully vaccinated.”
“We are not done yet and will continue building on the success of pop-up sites, said Patrick Warren, MTA Chief Safety Officer. “Thousands of people who likely would not otherwise have gotten a vaccination are stopping for it in stations due to the convenience, protecting themselves, their families and neighbors.”
The pop-up site and Grand Central Terminal’s Vanderbilt Hall is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Penn Station site located at the 34th Street Corridor is open from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Both sites have the capacity to administer 300 vaccinations per day.
The MTA continues robust messaging to advise the public about availability of the sites. Digital messages continue to run on 12,000 screens at MTA stations, onboard train cars, and buses to promote the site locations and hours of operation. Promotional content is being pushed to three million followers across MTA social media platforms, and wayfinding signage is posted at station pop-up locations to help guide traffic flow.