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City Offers New Yorkers $100 to Get Booster Shot

COVID-19 Vaccine (Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)

Dec, 21, 2021 By Christian Murray

Procrastination pays.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that New Yorkers who get the booster shot at a city run or SOMOS vaccination site will get $100—starting today.

The incentive, which comes as the city is waging battle against the omicron variant, will be offered through Dec. 31, he said.

“This is a limited time, but we hope a lot of people take it up, because it will be money well spent,” de Blasio said.

The omicron variant is sweeping through New York City and now accounts for 92 percent of cases in the five boroughs. The variant is also infecting residents who have already been vaccinated.

But the booster shot does provide an extra layer of protection, according to health experts.

A recent study found that the Moderna vaccine provided a 37-fold increase in protective antibodies against omicron, the New York Times reported. Meanwhile, the Pfizer booster increases the protective antibodies 25-fold.

The omicron variant does appear to cause more mild infections, although officials say it is highly transmissible.

Residents can find vaccination sites by clicking here.