Frontline Workers and Seniors Can Get the COVID-19 Vaccine Starting Monday: Cuomo

(Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash)

Jan. 8, 2021 By Allie Griffin

Frontline workers and New Yorkers 75-years and older will able to get vaccinated for COVID-19, beginning Monday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today.

Seniors, educators, first responders, public safety workers and public transit employees will be able to book an appointment to get the vaccine at hospitals, doctors’ offices, pharmacies and urgent care centers come Monday, Cuomo said.

The groups are within Phase 1B of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination distribution plan.

Starting Monday, NYS will begin scheduling vaccinations for the next group of people (Phase 1b):

-People age 75+
-Education workers
-First responders (police, fire)
-Public transit workers
-Public safety workers

Sites will include pharmacies, drs’ offices, Javits Center & more.

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) January 8, 2021

The state has allowed residents under Phase 1A — which includes mainly health care workers and nursing home residents and staff — to be vaccinated since Dec.14.

Cuomo said health care workers must still be prioritized for vaccine appointments ahead of those in Phase 1B. He warned that people within the second tier could face waits of weeks or months, due to the limited supply of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The governor decided to open up the vaccine supply to more New Yorkers following pressure from New York City and other municipalities in the state.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has been urging the governor to allow the city to vaccinate older New Yorkers and first responders–such as police officers and firefighters–for days.

He said the city has a surplus of vaccine doses since some health care workers have rejected the shot.

Following Cuomo’s announcement, de Blasio said the city will begin vaccinating people within Phase 1B on Monday.

“New York City has heard enough,” he tweeted. “We will begin administering shots to City Workers and the elderly in 1B starting on Monday.”

Earlier on Friday, de Blasio announced that the city will open five vaccination sites — one in each borough — prioritizing city workers on Monday. He made the announcement in the hope that the state would expand vaccination eligibility by Monday.

The Queens site will be located at John Adams High School in South Ozone Park. It will be prioritized for frontline essential workers, daycare workers, firefighters, police officers and corrections officers.