Residents going to movie theaters can now get a vaccine with their popcorn and soda.
The city is opening several vaccine pop-up sites at movie theaters starting this weekend, and offering a $100 gift card to people getting their first shot at the sites.
The new incentive and sites come as the city is seeing another decline in daily new vaccinations, following a bump in September ahead of the implementation of both a vaccine mandate for city teachers and a requirement that all city workers either vaccinate or test weekly for the coronavirus. The city has seen a series of protests against the mandates fueled by opposition from schools workers and other city employees.
Daily vaccination totals have fallen below 20,000 in recent days, after hitting a peak of nearly 35,000 immunizations on Sept. 10, according to city data.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said that he hoped increased traffic to movie theaters to see new releases would spur more vaccination.
"We have found these mobile sites, these pop up sites, have been some of the most successful things we've done in the vaccination effort," he said at a Wednesday news conference. "Hundred dollars - that’ll buy you a lot of popcorn."
The vaccine pop-up sites will be located at these theaters:
- AMC Magic Johnson Harlem
- Regal Union Square
- Concourse Plaza Multiplex Cinemas
- Regal UA Sheepshead Bay
- Regal A Kaufman Astoria
- Regal Bricktown Charleston
Just under two-thirds of the city's total population is fully vaccinated, according to city data.