Coronavirus NY: Postal workers, other public-facing workers now eligible for vaccine in New York

Coronavirus Update for New York

ByEyewitness News WABC logo

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Postal workers, other public-facing workers eligible for vaccine in NY

COVID vaccine eligibility in New York now includes government employees, not-for-profit workers, and essential public-facing building service workers.

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Starting today March 17, public-facing public employees are eligible for the COVID vaccine.

That includes government employees, not-for-profit workers, and essential public-facing building service workers.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said that he was happy to see more people eligible to get vaccinated, but that the city would "keep fighting" to get more doses and to make more people eligible.

New York City has now administered 3,019,434 COVID vaccination doses.

Daily hospitalizations in the city were again above the threshold of 200 at 234, the number of confirmed cases of COVID was 3,001 for Tuesday, and the 7-day positivity average was 6.44%.

Postal workers are also eligible for the vaccine under the new guidance.

Kristin Thorne repots on the vaccine eligbility expansion in New York.

The Centers for Disease Control said in December that postal workers should be included in the 1B vaccination category, but they were not in New York State -- until now.

"We've been out there since day one," USPS worker Nick Riggio said. "Postal service has not shut down."

Still, people that have been eligible for weeks to get the vaccine are still unable to get an appointment.

"I keep going online. I'm always a day late and a dollar short," said Wyandanch resident Keith Gholson, who is over 65.

Last week, eligibility was expanded to those ages 60+ in New York State.

"March 17, all sites can administer vaccines to any eligible population except pharmacies. Pharmacies will only be doing 60-plus and teachers. Also, next Wednesday, March 17, the everyday heroes, the essential workers, YWCA, essential workers, will be eligible for the vaccine," Cuomo had said.

Members of the media were not included specifically in the next round of essential workers eligible for the vaccine.

Meantime, Governor Cuomo said that New York will be preparing to make all adults eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by May 1, but the task "is a logistical undertaking, unlike anything we have done before."

Governor Cuomo toured the mass vaccination site at Mount Neboh Baptist Church, and also received his vaccine.

"I am getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because I want to make the point, take whatever vaccine you can get," Cuomo said.

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