Residents left in confusion and doubt as Brooklyn Army Terminal runs out of COVID-19 vaccines

Many people rushed to the Brooklyn Army Terminal thinking there were COVID-19 vaccines available only to be turned away after the facility experienced a vaccine shortage.

News 12 Staff

Jan 15, 2021, 6:52 PM

Updated 1,358 days ago

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Many people rushed to the Brooklyn Army Terminal thinking there were COVID-19 vaccines available only to be turned away after the facility experienced a vaccine shortage.
According to the Mayor Bill de Blasio's press secretary, a message on WhatsApp stated a number of vaccines were going bad and were available on a first come, first serve basis. The news resulted in long lines on Thursday night and some still showed up Friday morning.
One elderly Brooklyn resident told News 12 the process is just too confusing. He said he is scheduled for his vaccine next week, but after hearing the false rumor, he thought he'd be able to get his vaccine ahead of his scheduled date.
Many others who showed up without an appointment after hearing of an available vaccine on a first come, first serve basis were also denied.
The Brooklyn Army Terminal, described by de Blasio as a "mega site," opened this past Sunday with the power to vaccinate thousands each day. However, on Friday morning, those with and without appointments were turned away, leaving many disappointed, frustrated, and unaware of what to do next.
Those people are now being asked to reschedule.
There's no word at this point how long the vaccine shortage will last, but earlier this week, de Blasio called on the federal government to ship more vaccines immediately.