Mayor Considers Ice Cream Incentives, on Top of $100 for Each 5 to 11-Year-Old who Gets Vaccinated

By Yehudit Garmaise

New York City’s 5 to 11-year-olds, who have been getting vaccinated in large numbers for the last five days, are not only eligible for the city’s $100 incentives, but after one borough president promised to take his son out for ice cream after his shot, the mayor is considering ice cream incentives, as well.  

“I promised [my son] some ice cream because that is an incentive he will enjoy, as he gets vaccinated in the next few days,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, whose borough is leading the city right now in vaccinations.

“Thank you for very innovative ice cream incentive program that you have established in your own family,” said the mayor, to which Richards replied, “You should think about rolling out a citywide ice cream incentive,” that the borough president coined, “Get your shot, and get an ice cream pop.”

When a reporter asked the mayor whether he will be reaching out to an ice cream company for the 5 to 11-year-olds “or for anybody” in the city to get vaccinated, the mayor responded good-naturedly.

“I kind of like this ice cream plan,” said the mayor, who also reminded listeners that kids qualify for the $100 incentive, “which is even better than ice cream.”

“We really should be saying to parents a lot more: ‘You are going to get your kids vaccinated for their safety and well-being first and foremost, but $100 incentive doesn’t hurt: per child,’” the mayor said.

“So that is available right now, but I like the ice cream idea, so we are going to see if we can come up with an extra added ice cream incentive on top of that.”