coronavirus new york

Coronavirus NY News: Cuomo shows off the 'weapon that's going to win the war'

Coronavirus Update for New York

Friday, December 4, 2020

'This is the weapon that's going to win the war'

New York Gov. Cuomo demonstrates the process involved with the COVID-19 vaccine

NEW YORK (WABC) -- New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo unpacked a sample box of coronavirus vaccine, demonstrating the packaging and shipment required for ultra-cold storage.

He held up the small Corning-made glass vial that he said can hold five doses of vaccine.

The box can only be open for 60 to 90 seconds. The frozen vial must be thawed and the vaccine within administered within six hours.

The show-and-tell was a demonstration of what Cuomo described as the "weapon that's going to win the war."

Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also laid out the city's plan to vaccinate residents from COVID-19, beginning with high-risk health care workers and nursing home residents and staff.

The Pfizer vaccine will arrive in the city on December 15, followed by the Moderna vaccine on December 22.

The city says they are working closely with the state and the federal government on the vaccine distribution plan.

"It will obviously take months," de Blasio said. He did note, however, that more doses will be arriving in the city weekly.

The mayor added that there will be a great effort after health care workers and nursing homes to get the vaccine to the 27 New York City neighborhoods most deeply affected by the coronavirus.

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