NYC conducts massive phone blitz to boost COVID vaccination rate

Curbing COVID-19 could be just a call away.

Big Apple health investigators are conducting a massive phone blitz campaign to urge thousands of residents to get vaccinated for deadly bug, The Post has learned.

Workers with the Test & Trace Corps are reaching out to city households to determine the vaccination status of residents, offering to set up appointments at city-run vaccination sites for those who haven’t gotten jabbed yet.

And for those who have, they’re asking why they’ve chosen to get vaccinated.

The phone surveys come amid a spike in COVID-19 cases triggered by the highly contagious Delta strain.

More than 98 percent of hospitalizations and COVID-related deaths between January and June were among those who were not fully vaccinated against the bug, according to new city Health Department data.

The data also showed that 73 percent of adults are fully or partially vaccinated, but 27 percent remain unvaccinated.

A spokesman said the Test & Trace’s “Vaccine Outreach Phone Campaign” began “reaching out” to New Yorkers as early as March.

“The main function of the calls is to make sure that if New Yorkers are interested in scheduling an appointment, we can facilitate that for them,” said the spokesman, Adam Shrier.

A man getting vaccinated for COVID-19 at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in the Bronx on June 13, 2021.Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

“If people are already vaccinated, we ask to learn more about what guided their decision. If they are hesitant or resistant, we ask them to articulate why so we can connect them with city resources that can help address their concerns.”

He said the interviewer provides residents with three kinds of resources: appointments at city sites, direct connection with a city-contractor who does at-home vaccinations for those who prefer that option or are medically home-bound and a referral to a Health Department nurse and doctors hotline for those who have questions about the vaccine.

The pandemic has wreaked havoc on the Big Apple â€" nearly 1 million residents have tested positive for COVID-19 and 33,588 deaths are linked to the killer bug.

Mayor Bill de Blasio last week announced that the city is requiring proof of vaccination to enter certain indoor businesses â€" including all indoor restaurants, entertainment venues and gyms â€" to thwart the spread of infections.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that certain indoor activities will require proof of vaccination.Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images

He also is requiring employees in the city government workforce to either get vaccinated or face regular testing. All newly hired workers must also get jabbed.

The number of daily COVID cases in the city has jumped from average of 1,084 over the past 28 days to 1,597 cases over the past week.

For now, city officials are advising â€" but not mandating â€" that residents wear mask in public places.

The Test & Tracing Corps has changed its mission in recent months. The unit â€" part of the NYC Health + Hospitals agency â€" was initially created to contact New Yorkers who had tested positive or been exposed to COVID.

This post first appeared on Nypost.com

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