NEW YORK — New York City expanded its on-site COVID-19 vaccine hubs to charter schools on Friday.

Charter schools were initially excluded from the vaccine rollout, which only saw vaccine pods at public schools. Mayor Bill de Blasio called the effort to get more vaccines into the arms of children a “charter school blitz.”


What You Need To Know

  • New York City expanded its on-site vaccine pods to charter schools on Friday

  • Charter schools were initially excluded from the on-site vaccine rollout, which saw vaccine pods only at public schools

  • In the nearly two weeks that the vaccine has been available to kids ages five to 11, about 78,000 kids have received their first doses

A charter school has to schedule a vaccine pod with the city. Zeta Charter School in Washington Heights held its first pod on Friday.

Parents and educators said they did not feel slighted by the fact that the city did not include charter schools in the initial push.

“I just feel like the vaccine should be open to all students, whether they’re in public or charter school,” Zeta Charter School Academic Director Kiwana Yates said. Zeta had five pop-up sites in total at its schools.

“I want to make sure charter school students are safe, and that they are healthy, with COVID going around," Yates added. "And what better way? And we’re being equitable and showing that we care about every single student."

In the nearly two weeks that the vaccine has been available to kids ages five to 11, about 78,000 kids have received their first dose.

Second doses will begin to be available the week of Nov. 29.