New York expanding vaccine eligibility to include 1b, NYC set to open 5 centers

Coronavirus Update for New York

ByEyewitness News WABC logo

Saturday, January 9, 2021

NY expanding vaccine eligibility, NYC set to open 5 centers

Naveen Dhaliwal has the latest on New York's plan to expand vaccination eligibility in the state.

NEW YORK (WABC) -- After days of pressure from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and others, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Friday he is expanding the vaccine distribution network from just hospitals to a larger network that will allow an expansion of who can get the vaccine.

The distribution network will be expanded to non-hospital providers, like CityMD, which will in turn expand the pool of eligible recipients.

Reservations will start Monday for both phases 1a and 1b, but health care workers in 1a must remain a priority, Cuomo said.

The expansion will cover police, correction officers, some essential workers, and people who are 75 years and older.

Earlier Friday, de Blasio renewed his call for the expansion, saying the city has 270,000 unused doses that could go to people over 75 -- of which the city is home to 560,000.

"We've got literally twice as many New Yorkers over 75 than the amount of vaccine we have in stock, but yet we are not allowed by state law to give a single shot to a single New Yorker over 75," de Blasio said. "I guarantee you, if these standards are changed by the state, we are going to run through those 270,000 doses very, very quickly. Again, if we are given approval by the state, we will run through those 270,000 doses very quickly because we have so many people who want it."

Mayor Bill de Blasio also renewed his call for people over age 75 to be allowed to be vaccinated.

De Blasio also announced that five new vaccination sites will be open Monday -- one in each of the five boroughs-- to vaccinate members of the 1b group.

Additionally, the Javits Center will open as a vaccine distribution site on Wednesday.

Meantime, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea tested positive for COVID-19, along with 463 NYPD members who have tested positive for coronavirus this month.

Those qualified can register for a vaccine on the city's website. Starting on Monday, a phone-in reservation system will also be up and running.

CHECK THE LIST of who is eligible for a vaccine in New York State