New data shows massive slowdown in NYC COVID-19 vaccinations

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The number of New York City residents getting their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine has plummeted by two-thirds in recent weeks — even though just half of eligible residents have gotten a shot so far, Health Department data shows.

Just 136,710 people age 16 or older got their first shot of one of the three available vaccines over the most recently completed week, which stretches from April 25 and May 1.

That’s down a staggering 67 percent from the all-time high of 410,917 people who got their first coronavirus jab in New York City during the week that spanned April 4 to April 10.

The Big Apple’s overall vaccine tallies have yet to reflect the massive slowdown in first doses because of the significant numbers of second doses that have been handed out in recent weeks.

All told, there have been 450,226 second doses doled out over the last two completed weeks, compared to 338,467 first jabs, the data shows.

Two of the three currently approved vaccines — from Pfizer and Moderna — come in two-dose regimens. The third vaccine, from Johnson & Johnson, requires just one shot, but the company has struggled to ramp up supply.

Overall, 55 percent of adult city residents have gotten at least one shot so far.

Empire State residents ages 16 to 29 first became eligible for the vaccine April 6. Just 18.5 percent of those 16 to 25 in the state are now fully vaccinated, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday as he urged more young people to get the shot. The FDA will reportedly green-light the Pfizer vaccine for those ages 12 to 15 soon.

The drop-off in New Yorkers coming in for their first dose corresponds to a national slowdown in the vaccination effort, with many still hesitant about getting the jabs.

The Big Apple’s Health Department is already spending up to $8 million a month on a public service advertising campaign to tout the vaccine’s benefits in the five boroughs. City Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi has sent letters to doctors across the city urging them to contact their patients who have yet to be vaccinated and assuage their fears.

And city and state officials recently moved to allow walk-up appointments at publicly run vaccine sites across the city to overcome the difficulties of using their often-vexing online signup systems.

Despite the efforts, City Hall’s vaccination campaign continues to lag, especially among black adults — with just 30 percent having received a shot so far, the data shows.

White New Yorkers have gotten vaccinated at a much faster rate, with 49 percent having received at least one jab.

Manhattan is the city’s most vaccinated borough, with 64 percent of residents over 18 having received at least one dose of the vaccine.

The Bronx and Brooklyn are the two least vaccinated, where just 46 and 49 percent of adults have received at least one shot.

The Post’s analysis tallied both the first jabs of the two-dose inoculations and the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccinations.

“Vaccination doesn’t increase at the same pace. Once more people become fully vaccinated, the pace of first dose administration will naturally wane,” said Health Department spokesman Michael Lanza.

“The effort, however, is going full steam and we continue to engage more partners, distribute vaccine at more convenient locations and expand opportunities to New Yorkers.”

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