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January 21, 2021
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Dr. Fauci, Former Straphanger, Encourages MTA Employees to Get COVID-19 Vaccine: ‘This May Save Your Life’ |
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National Health Leader Details his Former Subway Commute and Assures Heroic Frontline Employees That Vaccine is Safe and Effective
In a video message played at today’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) board meeting, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Chief Medical Advisor to President Biden, encouraged MTA employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to protect themselves and those around them during the pandemic.
In the two-minute message, the former New York City Subway commuter speaks directly to the Authority’s heroic frontline employees, explaining that the vaccine is safe and the best way to fight back against the COVID-19 pandemic. MTA employees have kept New York City moving during the pandemic as essential workers and heroes –and are at the front of the line to receive a vaccine as Dr. Fauci details in his message.
The national health expert also speaks to the special place the MTA has in his heart from his teenage years, describing in detail his commute by subway from Brooklyn to Regis High School in Manhattan on the Upper East Side.
“I can relate warmly to you folks who played an important role in my younger days as a New Yorker and so since I care about you all, I strongly encourage all MTA workers to get vaccinated against the coronavirus,” Dr. Fauci says in the video. “This pandemic has taken so much from us and vaccination is the best way for us to fight back and help restore our lives. The U.S.-authorized coronavirus vaccines – one made by Pfizer, and the other by Moderna -- are safe and they’re free and they’re about 95 perfect effective at preventing adults of all ages from getting sick.”
The video message will also play across various MTA internal platforms for all employees to view.
A full transcription of Dr. Fauci’s message appears below.
Greetings to you all. My name is Tony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health.
As someone who grew up in Brooklyn, the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority has a special place in my heart. The New York City Subway system is embedded in my brain. I took the subway every day to get from my home in Brooklyn to and from Regis High School in Manhattan. I would take either the BMT, what was then called the West End line, when I lived in Bensonhurst, or what was then called the Sea Beach line when I moved to Dyker Heights. I would take it from there to 14th Street in Union Square where I would pick up the IRT Lexington Avenue Express to 86th and Lex to get to Regis on 85th between Madison and Park. And so I can relate warmly to you folks who played an important role in my younger days as a New Yorker.
And so since I care about you all, I strongly encourage all MTA workers to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. This pandemic has taken so much from us, and vaccination is the best way for us to fight back and help restore our lives. The U.S. authorized coronavirus vaccines, one made by Pfizer, the other by Moderna, are safe and they're free, and they're about 95% effective at preventing adults of all ages from getting sick. The sooner you get vaccinated, the sooner we can get our lives back and our country back on track.
Throughout the U.S. pandemic, you have kept New York City's public transit moving. That is why you are essential workers at the front of the line to receive a coronavirus vaccine. Take advantage of it, get vaccinated. To be fully protected, you need one shot plus a booster shot a few weeks later. This may save your life.
I wish you all the best. Take care of yourselves. And even after you are vaccinated, stay safe by continuing to follow public health guidelines of wearing a mask. Thank you.
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