Health advocates are calling on the New York City Health Department to resume distributing free condoms after a year-long shortage that has drawn increasing criticism — and even satire on social media.
The shortage, reportedly caused by high demand, has left many residents unable to access the safer-sex products traditionally provided by the city. A satirical Instagram account, Hack NY, recently spotlighted the issue with a comedic video featuring New York comedian Ayanna Dookie and actor Aaron Cohen. In the skit, Dookie’s character wakes up next to Cohen’s and learns she’s pregnant, with a narrator saying, “This could have been avoided,” blaming the city’s condom shortage.
The video urges viewers to pressure the city, saying, “Comment to tell them that we need more [condoms] before you make your next mistake.”
Currently, the city’s Department of Health website notifies visitors that its free condom supply has been exhausted due to overwhelming demand, stating:
“We hope to be back up and running shortly – stay tuned and we will see you soon!”
The site also includes a map of businesses and organizations that are supposed to have free condoms available. However, Hack NY claims it contacted many of the locations listed and found only about one-third of them actually had condoms in stock.
When asked for clarification about the map and the expected timeline for replenishing the supply, the Health Department reportedly did not provide an answer. Hack NY co-founder Matt Wing said the group decided to shift from promoting public programs to holding the city accountable after its investigation.
“We decided to pivot to encouraging viewers to call out DOH for the shortage in hopes they will feel motivated to increase supply,” Wing told The Post.
To amplify their message, Hack NY sends automatic messages to people who comment on the Instagram video, linking them to a pre-written tweet tagging the Health Department.
Both the Health Department and Mayor Eric Adams’ office declined to comment. However, the mayor’s management report from January noted a 21% drop in the distribution of “safer-sex products” — including condoms — in the first four months of fiscal year 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. The report attributed the decline to delays in registering a new purchase order with a vendor. The city resumed regular monthly distribution at the end of September 2024, it said.
In a message to Hack NY, the Health Department said it is currently securing a new vendor and has capped condom orders at 300 condoms and lubricant packets combined per organization per month.
New York City launched its own branded condoms in 2007 under then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg, with colorful wrappers inspired by the city’s subway lines. The city began offering free condoms in sexually transmitted disease clinics in 1971 and expanded the program to public high schools in 1991.
