COVID-19 Vaccination (Ed Reed/ Mayoral Photography Office)
Jan. 12, 2021 By Allie Griffin
New Yorkers 65 and older can now receive the COVID-19 vaccination, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday.
The announcement comes one day after people 75 and older became eligible for the shot across the state.
Cuomo said he lowered the age restrictions in line with newly-released guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which recommend health officials begin vaccinating people 65 and older as well as the immunocompromised.
Those 65 and older can begin scheduling appointments to receive their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine starting today, Secretary to Gov. Cuomo Melissa DeRosa confirmed on Twitter.
However, state officials are waiting for clearer guidance from the CDC on who is considered immunocompromised before opening appointments for people who fall into that category. The group will likely include people with heart and respiratory issues among other underlying health conditions.
Cuomo said that the expansion in vaccine eligibility means 7 million New Yorkers can now receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
However, he warned that the state doesn’t have the supply to meet the demand.
“We receive 300,000 dosages per week — that has not changed…,” Cuomo said on a call with reporters. “At 300,000 per week, how do you effectively serve 7 million people all of whom are now eligible?”
The governor had been reluctant to increase the number of New Yorkers who can currently receive the coronavirus vaccine last week.
After pushback from Mayor Bill de Blasio and other local leaders, Cuomo added educators, first responders such as police officers and firefighters, public transit workers and people 75 and older to the vaccine eligibility list.
Now, people 65 and older as well as others who are eligible can make an appointment to get vaccinated by calling 877-VAX-4NYC or visiting nyc.gov/vaccinefinder.
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8 Comments
The city needs community outreach workers trained to give out information and get seniors vaccinated. For example it was senior citizen discount day at a local supermarket. The market was full of seniors and i thought how wonderful it would of been to have a bilingual outreach worker give out information or even a mobile center outside giving out info or administering vaccines. All the people i saw and knew told me that they were unaware that they qualify and seemed to be more concerned about what was on sale. If they could get up and walk to the store to save a buck or two on groceries then they could go wait in line to get the vaccine. Offer people something like the city does for those that show up at criminal court appearances. Maybe free coffee ☕and donut ?.
Thank you Cuomo !!!
There is so much frustration and confusion surrounding the COVID Vaccine Appointment Process, I tried to make an appointment for my elderly parent with their primary doctor and was told I can not at the moment. Makes me feel like private offices are giving others priority, someone needs to investigate this.
how many seniors over 75 year old showed up? Its the middle of winter. Its so hard for most seniors to go out during this time of year in NYC. Most of them are cooped up at home. I do not know or see any Jane Fondas, Goldie Hawns, or Rod Stewarts types walking around in our neighborhood. Most of the seniors around here look poor and weak and require assistance. I think by the end of month the governor will allow people who just turned 18 and over to go get vaccinated.
“Meatball Recipe” sounds racist against Italians. Would the commenter write that about Trump, Schumer or Maloney ?
Let me see. Italians are white and meatballs are a food, not a race. Are you off your meds again?
Anyhoo. It was a reference to Cuomo’s longwinded TV appearances where he’d wax poetic about his mom’s meatballs with his brother Fredo as the Coronavirus was running wild last year.
Cuomo really knows how to take care of those old folks. Especially the ones in nursing homes!
Cuomo would have never needed to get involved if Trump did his job. Trumps failed policies started the ball rolling. You voted for this.. Politics is a celebrity popularity game of idiocy to people like you.