NY Receives Fewer Vaccine Dosages Despite Demand 'Crush'

New York City NY

15 January, 2021

2:14 PM

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NEW YORK, NY — Despite a "crush" of demand for coronavirus vaccinations and what some have called a chaotic rollout of the program after eligibility expanded dramatically across New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state received less dosages this week than it has in the past. In a week that has seen eligibility opened to 7.1 million New Yorkers, only 300,000 vaccinations dosages had been received weekly statewide. Cuomo said Friday that the state received only 250,000 vaccine dosages this week. "It was like opening the floodgates and forcing it through a syringe," he said. With a statewide positivity rate of 6 percent Friday — in New York City it ranged from 3.8 percent to 7.68 percent across the five boroughs — and 183 deaths Cuomo said with the federal government expanding eligibility to people 65 and over, 7.1 million of New York's 15.4 eligible residents are now able to receive a vaccine. But at 300,000 dosages received per week, it would take six months to vaccinate all eligible, he said. (NY Governor's Office). Those trying frantically to secure an appointment may have to wait up to 14 weeks for their turn. Most sites are fully booked, Cuomo said. "The federal government has created a crisis by increasing eligibility but not supply," he said.A lack of federal supply has led to backlog and pressure on what was supposed to be a prioritization process, Cuomo said. Overall, statewide, 74 percent of vaccine first doses have been delivered and "are in arms," Cuomo said. (NY Governor's Office). The state is waiting for guidance on those with pre-existing conditions, he added, a group that would add 5 million to the eligibility pool. New York has received 1.1 million doses in the past four weeks; 730,000 have been administered and the rest are part of the federally administered program to vaccinate those in nursing homes, state officials said. The UK strain continues to keep Cuomo up at night, with two new cases diagnosed in New York City earlier this week. There are a total of 16 statewide, Cuomo said. Cuomo also said there is no need to worry that those who have received first dosages won't receive a second. Cuomo aide Melissa DeRosa addressed the frenzy of many rushing to the state's website to try to book a vaccination appointment. When the website first launched, she said, the website listed state sites, of which there will be 20 next week; it was also a "one-stop shop" for pharmacies and other places administering the vaccination. When the numbers eligible went from a "manageable universe to 7.1 million," the "crush" causes servers to go down. Now, individuals are asked to contact individual providers and pharmacies for appointment availability; those sites have been removed from the state website to help keep traffic manageable. (NY Governor's Office). Meanwhile, vaccination rollout has been "uneven" by region and depending on providers, Cuomo said. In New York City, 60 percent of first dose allocations have been administered. In addition, the percentage of hospital workers who have received the vaccine is "uneven," despite the dire need to get hospital staff vaccinated in order to keep hospital capacity open and avoid a shutdown, Cuomo said. The number of beds available is not an issue but the number of hospital workers getting sick is a concern, he said. Cuomo also said vaccine providers who are designated to a specific group need to prioritize that group— hospitals for health care workers; county and county health departments for essential workers, who are also self-vaccinating; and pharmacies, for those 65 and over — so that everyone gets their fair allocation. (NY Governor's Office). A focus will continue on communities of color where dueling concerns of access and distrust need to be addressed through education and outreach, Cuomo said. And, he said, New York needs more dosages from the federal government. In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio has warned that that means vaccine doses could run out as soon as next week. Nearly 338,000 of New York City's 800,000-dose stockpile had been administered as of Friday, according to city data. De Blasio said the city is on pace to hit its goal of 1 million total shots this month should more shipments come in. The goal continues, Cuomo said: "We need to get needles in the arms." Patch Reporter Lisa Finn wrote this report.