Brenda Dock is glad a mass vaccination site will open at Yankee Stadium Friday, but she will not be among the Bronx residents signing up for an appointment. 

At least, not yet. 

“I plan to get it, I just want to do some more investigation on it. I’m just a little confused about the the ones that you have to take two shots and the ones that you take one shot,” she said. 


What You Need To Know

  • The vaccine site is an effort between the city, state, SOMOS community care, the New York National Guard and the New York Yankees

  • Elected leaders hope it will address the high positivity rate in the Bronx and the racial disparities among New Yorkers getting the vaccine

  • Officials say 15,000 appointments will be available during the first week, but some are questioning whether that many people will actually show up

The vaccine site is an effort between the city, state, SOMOS community care, the New York National Guard and the New York Yankees. 

Elected leaders hope it will address the high positivity rate in the Bronx, but also the racial disparities among New Yorkers getting the vaccine. 

New statistics show Black and Latino New Yorkers getting vaccinated at disproportionately low rates. 

“There’s not enough everywhere, but especially our neighborhoods like mine," said Tonja Smitherman, who lives in Highbridge.   "People are kind of skeptical, you know what I’m saying? Especially, I don’t wanna say minorities, I hate that word, but my people."

Officials say they will have 15,000 appointments available to eligible Bronx residents during the first week. 

But Councilman Mark Levine says the city is not doing enough to sign people up. He tweeted “There are still 1000s of vaccine appts available at Yankee stadium next week. They are not disappearing fast.” 

City Hall spokesperson Bill Neidhardt responded to that tweet saying canvassers signed up hundreds of people on the ground Thursday. 

Tonja Smitherman thinks the site is a great idea, but says there are doubts about the vaccination process within the community. 

“I took my mother to the doctor the other day to get the shot, but she didn’t get it cause they have it, and then I’m worried if she gets the first shot will she get the second shot? That’s what people are worried about,” said Smitherman. 

The site will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Proof of residency is required.