Eigthy-four-year-old Pascual Herrera says he made an appointment at 1 A.M. Saturday morning to get his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the new mega site in Corona, Queens. 

“I feel good, no problems for me," Herrera told NY1.


What You Need To Know

  • Queens is the final borough to get a 24/7 mega vaccination hub

  • The vaccine site at 34-33 Junction Boulevard in Corona, Queens began administering the vaccine Saturday morning

  • The new site opens as the city is dealing with a shortage of supply in the vaccine

For the last several months, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene clinic on Junction Blvd was serving as a COVID-19 testing site. 

On Saturday morning, it also began administering its first doses of the vaccine to those with appointments. 

The site is the borough’s first 24/7 hub. Though it is much smaller than the vaccine centers in Brooklyn and the Bronx, Herrera was happy it had opened. 

“I live right over here and I see oh, it's in the health center, let me go right away.“

Queens is the final borough to get a mega vaccination site. 

The opening of the Corona location comes as the city is grappling with a dire shortage of vaccine supply. 

Mya Win, another local, received her first dose of the vaccine at the new location Saturday afternoon. 

“I am very scared. Every day a lot of people die because of it. That is why I got it," Win said.

She says the vaccine supply shortage worries her. 

“I watch the television, they said not enough for the second shot, that is why I am worried for the second shot.”

On Friday, the city’s site at the Brooklyn Army Terminal had to close because they ran out of doses.

It has since reopened, but some New Yorkers are asking why are they opening more sites if they don’t have the supply. 

“If we don’t have supply, we open more sites -- it's no good,” said Abdul Motaled, a Queens resident hoping to make an on-site appointment for the vaccine. 

Beginning the week of January 25th, another 24/7 mega site will open in Queens at Citi Field.

That location will have the ability to vaccinate up to 7,000 people a day.

New Yorkers say they just hope there are enough shots to go around.