Ultra-Orthodox zip codes have some of New York's worst vaccination rates

• Author: AARON REICH
• Published date: 15 June 2021
• Date: 15 June 2021
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

New York's statewide vaccination rate currently stands at 69.9% in terms of those who have received at least one dose, Cuomo said in a statement.

Earlier, the governor stated that "virtually all" of the state's coronavirus restrictions will be lifted when the state reaches 70%.

But 10% of New York's zip codes are lagging behind, with vaccination rates below 38.8%.

The worst zip code area in the state is Monsey, a suburb in Rockland County that is known for its large ultra-Orthodox population, which has a rate of just 17.8%.

Of the rest of the list, presented by Cuomo at the press conference and reported on by The New York Post, seven of the 25 worst zip codes are in New York City, with six of them in the borough of Brooklyn. In particular, the zip codes for Williamsburg, Borough Park and Crown Heights, all of which are in Brooklyn and have high ultra-Orthodox populations, had rates below 38.8%. Far Rockaway, a neighborhood in the borough of Queens that also boasts a large ultra-Orthodox population, was also on this list.

Throughout the pandemic, there has been considerable tension among these communities directed at the authority of Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, and many of them feel as if they have been unfairly blamed for spikes in cases.

However, the coronavirus pandemic is not the first time these communities have had a vaccination issue. The measles...