Vaccine Distribution Update
Today, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that over the past two days the State has deployed eight community vaccination kits to churches and cultural institutions in New York City, Long Island and Westchester County to assist in the State’s equitable vaccine distribution efforts focused on communities of color and low-income communities. These sites include:
- Manhattan: Abyssinian Baptist Church
- Brooklyn: Christian Cultural Center
- Bronx: Community Protestant Church
- Queens: Queens Baptist Church
- Nassau County: Grace Cathedral International
- Suffolk County: Prayer Tabernacle COGIC
- Staten Island: Mt. Sinai Center for Community Enrichment
- Westchester County: Calvary Baptist Church
The Governor today also announced that the state-run vaccination sites at SUNY Stony Brook, Aqueduct Racetrack, SUNY Potsdam and Plattsburgh International Airport are now open and vaccinating eligible New Yorkers by appointment only. To determine eligibility and schedule an appointment to receive the first dose, New Yorkers can utilize the state’s ‘Am I Eligible’ app or call the New York State Vaccination Hotline at 1-833-NYS-4VAX (1-833-697-4829).
One Day, Two Letters
Gov. Cuomo announced today the release of two letters sent in recent days. The first was sent to HHS Secretary Alex Azar demanding an explanation for the Department’s claim last week that all of the doses that had been held in physical reserve would be shipped to the states while NY is now receiving 50,000 less doses per week than previously announced. A copy of this letter can be viewed here. The second letter was sent to Pfizer Chairman and CEO Dr. Albert Bourla asking for the ability to purchase COVID-19 vaccines directly from the company. Gov. Cuomo believes that since Pfizer did not take funding from Operation Warp Speed they are not bound by the same commitments that Moderna has to make and therefore would be able to sell directly to the State. This letter can be found here.
New York State COVID-19 Numbers
The statewide positivity rate yesterday was 6.54% with 8,868 hospitalizations, an increase of 97 people over the previous day. There were 153 COVID-19 deaths in New York State yesterday.
