Already the largest vaccination effort in New York City's history, the goal of the campaign is to educate people and provide reassurance that the two federally authorized coronavirus vaccines are "safe, effective and free."
"We will get the message out using all types of media and different languages, whatever it takes to help people understand that this is the difference maker," he said. "This vaccine is what will allow us to move forward, all the pain, all the suffering, all the loss can be defeated."
Mayor de Blasio unveils new citywide vaccination campaign
To help drive home the safety message, the mayor today welcomed three New Yorkers to his daily coronavirus briefing, and each one detailed why they had no worries rolling up their sleeves.
"I got my shot and I'm feeling good," health care worker Kevin Cruz said. "No side effects, no nothing."
Cruz, who worked at North Central Bronx Hospital since 1978, said he has seen the city through some of its worst health crisises, like the AIDS epidemic.
ALSO READ | NYC's first COVID vaccine recipients provide health update
NY's first COVID vaccine recipients provide health update
""We've been through a lot of things here, but never seen anything like this." said Cruz, remembering the early days of the pandemic in the spring, which he called "ground zero."
Cruz said at the beginning of the pandemic, "no one knew whether you were going to go home."
"When you came on a shift, you didn't know if you were going to get out," he said. "You really didn't."
Cruz pleaded for New Yorkers to take the shots.
"We need to do what we got to do," he said. "This is the beginning here. I count myself as lucky for having gotten the shot, and lucky to be able to help these people who are dealing with it every day."
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