BRONX, N.Y. — The New York Yankees are stepping up to the plate in the fight to end the COVID-19 pandemic. Yankee Stadium will serve as a mass vaccination site. The site has been established through a partnership between New York State, New York City, the Yankees, SOMOS Community Care, and the New York National Guard.
The vaccinations will start this Friday, Feb. 5. Vaccinations are available by appointment only. Plus, one must be an eligible Bronx resident who meets New York’s 1a and 1b vaccine eligibility requirements only in order to become vaccinated.
“The New York Yankees recognize the devastating effect COVID-19 has had on our borough, and it is our privilege to have Yankee Stadium as a host site for providing vaccines to Bronx residents. These vaccinations will make an immediate difference in improving the health of our local community — which has been so overwhelmed by this pandemic — and we extend our appreciation to all those involved with bringing this effort to fruition, including Governor Andrew Cuomo, the State of New York, Mayor Bill De Blasio, the City of New York and SOMOS Community Care. We will do whatever is needed to make this a success,” the Yankees organization stated in a released statement.
“It’s abundantly clear that Black, Latino and poor communities have been hit the hardest by COVID, and the Bronx is no exception,” Cuomo said.
A mass vaccination site at Yankee Stadium is opening on FRIDAY for #Bronx residents.
Vaccinations are by appointment only. You MUST be an eligible resident of the Bronx.
Schedule your appointment today: https://t.co/s1A4nhOB8f#VaccinateNY pic.twitter.com/9KDwiIVpK3
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) February 3, 2021
“Our efforts to target vaccinations by locations with higher positivity rates have been working to not only keep the infection rate down, but to help ensure equity in our vaccine distribution process, and opening a mass vaccination site at Yankee Stadium – the Bronx’s most iconic landmark – is the perfect solution to helping this borough get vaccinated and defeat COVID once and for all,” Cuomo explained.
Mayor de Blasio echoed those sentiments on what having a mass vaccination site at Yankee Stadium means for Bronx residents.
“This mega-site shows what our grassroots, equity-driven NYC Vaccine for All effort is all about,” de Blasio remarked.
“Yankee Stadium has always been known for its World Series banners, but now it’ll be recognized as a place where the people of the surrounding community in the Bronx can receive the vaccine doses that they need and deserve. This is about justice and standing up for the neighborhoods that were hardest hit by COVID-19,” de Blasio added.
The Yankee Stadium mega site will bring the #COVID19 vaccine to communities hardest hit by the pandemic.
It’s a home run for justice and equity — thank you to the @Yankees for stepping up to the plate for the Bronx! pic.twitter.com/yjdXCPu7sr
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) February 3, 2021
According to NYC Councilmember Mark D. Levine, who represents District 7, which includes Washinton Heights, thousands of appointments remain available.
There are still 1000s of vaccine appts available at Yankee stadium next week. They are not disappearing fast.
This is good news—but also bad news. It means NYC is not doing enough outreach to people on the ground. The City should have teams out all over the Bx signing people up. pic.twitter.com/84LKUjwszN
— Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) February 4, 2021
The site will operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. Eligible Bronx residents may make their appointment by visiting Somosvaccinations.com or by calling 1-833-SomosNY.
Those who schedule appointments for Yankee Stadium are also required to bring proof of residency with them to the appointment. To prove Bronx residency, one must display:
One of the following:
- State or government-issued ID;
- Statement from landlord;
- Current rent receipt or lease;
- Mortgage records.
Or
Two of the following:
- Statement from another person;
- Current mail;
- School records.
