Yankee Stadium, the iconic stadium of the New York Yankees, MLB team, was inaugurated as a mass vaccination center against COVID-19 by authorities trying to raise inoculation rates in the surrounding Bronx neighborhoods affected by the pandemic.
The areas, where the minority population resides, will have a great opportunity to start receiving the vaccine, something that has not happened so far. This was highlighted by EFE.
The Yankees’ home as vaccination site is restricted to residents of the New York City district with the highest percentage of positive coronavirus test results.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio called it “a different kind of Opening Day” hours after a long line formed outside the stadium.
“It’s about protecting the people who need the most help because the Bronx is one of the places that suffered the brunt of this coronavirus crisis. The Bronx has suffered and the time has come to be able to help those most in need of the vaccine ”.
De Blasio, a fan of the Boston Red Sox, donned a Yankees cap to thank the team and declared himself a fan of Boston’s archrival “just for a day.”
The site established with the help of the city and state of New York recorded about 13,000 of the 15,000 available citations in its first week, according to information provided by authorities.
Initially, Yankee Stadium will be open seven days a week, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The officials who organized the vaccination process recruited former Yankees star interviewer, Mariano Rivera, of Panama, to collaborate with the cause.
The Hall of Famer said he wanted to support the people who supported him for so many years.
“We saved so many games here, but now it’s about saving lives,” stressed the former Panamanian player. “I am happy to be able to help this cause and support our communities in need.”
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