New York City is looking to offer vaccine tourism for out-of-state visitors. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is working with Governor Andrew Cuomo to possibly have pop-up vaccination sites. The plan is to set up vaccination sites that offer one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccines to tourists. Though it is still pending approval, de Blasio plans to have vaccination vans in popular tourist sites. If things go according to plan, vaccination vans will be present at the Empire State Building, Times Square, Brooklyn Bridge among others.
For Mayor de Blasio, “This is a positive message to tourists”. He also said that “Come here, it’s safe, it’s a great place to be and we’re gonna take care of you”. Aside from tourists, de Blasio believes that this can also encourage Americans to get protected. The latest trends show that the rate of vaccinations around the US is slowing down.
The good news is that vaccine programs are now trendy. A new Harris Poll shows 65% of Americans support incentives that can get people vaccinated.
Vaccination is Key to Recovery
New York is one of the most successful states in terms of vaccination. And also, looking at the big picture, vaccination will play a role in the recovery of the travel industry. New York City announced that it is looking to reopen 100% on July 1.
New York is also the first state to implement a vaccine passport. The Excelsior Pass makes it easier for establishments to check the vaccination status of an individual. This plays an important role since CDC’s stance is that fully vaccinated individuals can stay indoors without masks.
However, some oppose the use of vaccine passports. In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis banned the use of vaccine passports. Companies will not be able to ask about the vaccination status of their employees and their customers.
The Rise of Vaccine Tourism
Vaccine tourism is becoming a trend nowadays. It has been reported that Thai Travel Agencies are offering “vaccine vacation” packages to those who could afford them. The packages start from $2,400 to $6,400.
