Harlem's Vaccine Rates Rose By 5% After $100 Incentive: Data

HARLEM, NY — Vaccination rates in Harlem have seen a marked increase over the past two weeks, a possible response to the contagious delta variant and new incentives designed to encourage New Yorkers to get their shots.

On July 27, 53.2 percent of Harlem residents had gotten at least one shot of the vaccine, according to city data. The next day, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that each newly vaccinated New Yorker would get $100.

In the ensuing two weeks, Harlem's vaccination rate has risen to 55.9 percent as of Wednesday. That's the biggest two-week jump since the start of June, according to Patch's analysis.

Put another way, the number of Harlemites with at least one shot rose by 9,306 people since July 27: a far greater increase than any other two-week span since June.

All told, 196,590 Harlem residents had gotten at least one shot of the vaccine by Wednesday. Rates vary in different parts of the neighborhood: East Harlem's 10035 ZIP code has the highest partial rate, with 61 percent having gotten at least one dose, while 10039 in northern Harlem has the lowest at 48 percent.

Those less-vaccinated areas rank near the bottom of the citywide list. The least-vaccinated ZIP codes are mostly in Brooklyn and Queens, with Far Rockaway's 11691 coming in lowest at 40 percent.

Most of the newly vaccinated people who scored a $100 gift card are New Yorkers of color, the city said Thursday. About 43 percent identified as Hispanic, 21 percent as Black, 13 percent as Asian and nine percent as white.

"I'm thrilled 50,000 New Yorkers have taken advantage of this incentive so far," de Blasio said in a statement. "This is clearly a smart, effective way to drive up vaccination rates."

Here's the vaccination data for all eight Harlem ZIP codes, as of Wednesday:

• 10026 – Central Harlem (South): 54 percent received one dose, 49 percent fully vaccinated
• 10027 – Central Harlem (South)/Morningside Heights/West Harlem: 56 percent received one dose, 51 percent fully vaccinated
• 10029 – East Harlem: 58 percent received one dose, 52 percent fully vaccinated
• 10030 – Central Harlem (North): 49 percent received one dose, 44 percent fully vaccinated
• 10031 – Hamilton Heights/West Harlem: 58 percent received one dose, 53 percent fully vaccinated
• 10035 – East Harlem: 61 percent received one dose, 54 percent fully vaccinated
• 10037 – Central Harlem (North)/East Harlem: 54 percent received one dose, 48 percent fully vaccinated
• 10039 – Central Harlem (North)/Washington Heights (South): 48 percent received one dose, 42 percent fully vaccinated

To find a vaccine site near you, visit nyc.gov/vaccinefinder.