Will outright bribery work where all other attempts have failed to persuade hardcore New Yorkers to “get the jab” with COVID-19 vaccine?
In a new effort to persuade city residents to inoculate against the deadly virus, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Wednesday at a briefing that starting this Friday, his administration will pay residents $100 a piece to get the shot at city-run COVID-19 vaccination sites.
“When you get your first dose, you will get a $100 incentive,” said de Blasio. “One hundred dollars for any New Yorker who goes to a city-run site to get vaccinated.
“We’ll say ‘thank you,’ we’ll say we’re really glad that you got vaccinated for yourself, for your family, for your community – and here’s a hundred dollars to thank you for doing the right thing and to encourage people.
“Not only do you get the hundred dollars,” he added, “you then qualify to be able to do everything else that’s wonderful in this city, including the amazing concerts coming up.”
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that the state will aim to mandate vaccinations — or regular weekly testing — for all state employees, by Labor Day.
: New York State will mandate all state employees either be vaccinated or get tested regularly.
We are working with the state unions to implement this program quickly & fairly. Will take effect by Labor Day.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo)
In addition, Cuomo said that all patient-facing health care workers at state-run hospitals will be required to vaccinate.
Our healthcare workers carried us through this pandemic—and we owe it to them to do what we can to keep Delta under control.
NYS will require patient-facing healthcare workers at State hospitals to get vaccinated to help keep both patients and workers safe.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo)
Regular testing will not be an option for those employees, he said.
