COVID vaccination pace slows as New York awaits more supply

Coronavirus update for NYC

ByEyewitness News WABC logo

Monday, January 25, 2021

Pace slows on COVID vaccination as NY awaits more supply

Diana Rocco reports that many mass vaccination sites across New York City are delaying their opening until new vaccine supply is received.

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- New York State officials are hopeful they will get more COVID vaccine later this week. They have already administered 88 percent of the doses they have received.

Citi Field was set to open this week as a 24/7 mass vaccination site, but NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed Monday that the opening is now on hold.

The mega-sites at Yankee Stadium and Empire Outlets are on hold as well.

New York City has administered 628,831 doses so far, de Blasio said, with 19,032 first doses remaining.

The city is expecting 107,825 resupply doses this week. NYC will have the capacity to vaccinate 500,000 people per week, the mayor said, once supplies are replenished.

When it comes to other sites, like the state-run Javits Center, there are some appointments still available, but very few considering current demand and the pace at which the state has been vaccinating New Yorkers.

Sites in New York that were no longer taking appointments include Jones Beach - Field 3, State Fair Expo Center, SUNY Albany, Westchester County Center, SUNY Stony Brook University Innovation and Discovery Center, Aqueduct Racetrack - Racing Hall, SUNY Binghamton, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, University at Buffalo South Campus and Rochester Dome Arena.

SUNY Potsdam Field House and Plattsburgh International Airport still have appointments available.

The new White House administration has made no promises.

"I don't have anything for you on prioritization," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said. "That's something our team is working through and we want to ensure that we are working closely with ensure that we're working closely with governors across the country to effectively do that."

Meanwhile, due to decreasing COVID rates in our area, the governor has not said how yet, but says he will be rolling back restrictions on businesses starting Wednesday.

"I think New Yorkers were smart about it, and that's why you've seen the positivity rate did not go up like it did in other places," Cuomo said. "T think we are at a new place now, we can start to adjust that valve and start to open up more economic activity and reduce some of the restrictions and reduce some of the micro cluster zones, orange zones, etc."

250,000 doses are on their way to New York State this week with New York City allotted 107,000 of those doses.

Lauren Glassberg has the latest on the vaccination sites in NYC and who is next in line for the shot.

Cuomo is also working to ensure the vaccine reaches hard-hit minority communities.

A recent poll found that 40 percent of black Americans have reservations about the vaccine.

COVID NEWS: NY faces COVID vaccine shortage as demand continues to outpace supply

The Javits Center is no longer taking appointments as the state is starting week six of their vaccination process.

On Sunday, the governor send out a recorded message addressing Black churchgoers.

"We all need to trust the vaccine," Cuomo said. "I know there is skepticism about government. And I know there is skepticism about the Trump Administration in particular. Don't get me wrong: I didn't trust many actions of the Trump Administration. But this vaccine was reviewed by the best doctors and hospitals and researchers in New York State, and it is safe."

The shortage of doses has impacted the FDNY, which is suspending first dose vaccinations for its members on Monday because of the dwindling supply.

About 7,000 members have received the initial dose. The department will resume vaccinations once it gets more doses.

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