New York has taken vaccination against coronavirus seriously. In fact, 45.6% of the state's residents are fully vaccinated, but the state continues to offer incentives to ensure that all residents receive the vaccine.
Vaccination
has slowed in New York City and outside. Since the vaccination was introduced,
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo have offered incentives for
vaccination, such as free tickets to Yankees and Mets games, state parks and
museums.
On
Wednesday, Cuomo added free college scholarships to the list. Starting
Thursday, every resident between the ages of 12 and 17 who receives their first
dose of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine will be entered into a drawing to win a
full-ride scholarship to a CUNY or SUNY college.
"It's
an incentive for students," Cuomo said, according to the New York Times. "They're planning on going to college. They're worried about how they're to
pay for it."
Each week,
for five weeks, state officials will randomly select 10 children for the
scholarships. Each scholarship covers tuition, room, and board, books, and
transportation. The estimated cost of tuition is about $7,070, and room and
board are about $14,110. The cost of books and supplies is about $1,290 and
transportation will cost about $1,010.
De Blasio is
also expanding where residents can be vaccinated. According to NBC 4, mobile
vaccination sites will be set up at city parks and beaches, including Central Park,
Prospect Park, Coney Island, Brighton, Orchard, and Rockaway beaches, Governor's
Island, and Brooklyn Bridge Park. In addition, those who get their shots at
Madison Square Garden on Thursday will have a chance to win tickets to a Knicks
game next season.
2020 was
unlike any other year for New York. The coronavirus pandemic put the city into
a nap in the spring when businesses were closed, workers were stuck at home
and schools switched to distance learning. As the weather warmed, New Yorkers
donned masks and protested the police amid the resurgence of the Black Lives
Matter movement.