Photo: MGN.
Photo: MGN.
WHECTV
Updated: February 15, 2021 01:28 PM
Created: January 08, 2021 12:32 PM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — As of Jan. 11, New Yorkers in Phase 1A and segments of Phase 1B are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Eligible groups include doctors, nurses and health care workers, people age 65 and over, first responders, teachers, public transit workers, grocery store workers and public safety workers.
Due to limited supply from the federal government, state officials say it may be 14 or more weeks before an appointment is available to some New Yorkers. Vaccines are being offered at clinics ran by the state and local governments, as well as pharmacies and healthcare sytems.
*A note on healthcare systems
Health systems are seeing a significant reduction in vaccine supply. Last week, UR Medicine got just 300 doses, most of which were given to healthcare workers. Unused doses can ONLY be offered to patients who are 65+. Less than 100 went to randomly chosen 65+. In fact, UR Medicine has 107k patients who are 65+ and would be eligible for the vaccine and so far, it has only been able to vaccinate 3,000 of them and now that number will dramatically decrease.
So bottom line: Seniors should NOT wait for a call from their doctor's office with a vaccine opportunity. They should be fighting with everyone else to get vaccinated at a state-run site or a pharmacy.
.@UR_Med actually has about 107,000 patients who are 65+ and would qualify for the vaccine, so far it has vaccinated about 3,000 of them. @news10nbc https://t.co/MxxrDINOfs
— Jennifer Lewke (@WHEC_JLewke) February 15, 2021
As for those locations and elligiblities:
Pharmacies
FOR WHO: People 65+
WHERE? : CVS and Walgreens
HOW?: To sign up for a vaccine appointment at CVS, click here, or you can use its app. Anyone without internet access can call (800) 746-7287. For Walgreens, click here, and follow the guidelines it lays out.
County Sites
FOR WHO?: Frontline workers, Comorbidities -Healthcare Systems - Healthcare Workers, LIMITED 65+
WHERE?: Check your county's DOH page.
State Sites
FOR WHO: Frontline workers, 65+, Comorbidities (Anyone eligible)
WHERE?: Various sites statewide
HOW?: The state urges people to follow these steps:
Step 1: First, you should complete the Am I Eligible? App to check your eligibility and find vaccination locations near you where you can schedule an appointment, or call the New York State COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline at 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829). The hotline is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., 7 days a week, for scheduling vaccination appointments for those eligible.
Step 2: Once and only once you have a confirmed appointment, you must complete the New York State COVID-19 Vaccine Form. This form can be completed online and you will receive a submission ID, or it can be completed at your vaccination site.
Step 3: When you go to your vaccination site for your appointment, you must bring proof of eligibility. This may include an employee ID card, a letter from an employer or affiliated organization, or a pay stub, depending on the specific priority status. If you are eligible due to age, you should bring a form of ID (like a Driver's License or passport) that includes your date of birth.
Step 4: You will be able to schedule an appointment to get your second shot at your vaccination site, in-person, right after getting your first shot. Both vaccines require two doses for effectiveness.
Below is a list of who is eligible now or in the coming weeks per the New York State Department of Health's current distribution plan.
Phase 1A
Phase 1B
The state has created a vaccine dashboard to track the number of first and second doses administered.
Learn more about the phases of the vaccine distribution here.
The latest on the coronavirus pandemic can be found here.
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