Coronavirus: Locals Among 89,000 New Yorkers Vaccinated So Far
As of Tuesday, 89,000 New Yorkers have received the first COVID-19 vaccine dose, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a Wednesday news briefing.
Among them was Donna Selwa-Selig, Emergency Department RN and Shrub Oak resident, the first staff member at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital to be vaccinated against COVID 19. The shot was administered by Taline Sagherian Guekjian, Nurse Practitioner on Dec. 15 in Cortlandt Manor, said hospital officials who have launched a "Don't Hesitate, Vaccinate" campaign.
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New Yorkers vaccinated so far include 22,000 in 90 nursing home facilities, who received the first dose as part of a federal-private partnership program. The program is expected to vaccinate residents and staff at 618 facilities across the state, with first doses administered over the next two weeks.
The governor also announced that the New York State Department of Health has authorized the use of extra doses that have been found in Moderna vaccine vials. The vials were previously believed to contain 10 doses, but may now contain up to 11 doses. That news comes on the heels of news that the Pfizer vaccine had more dosages than they said per vial.
New York's Vaccine Equity Task Force launched this week, chaired by Secretary of State Rossana Rosado, Attorney General Letitia James, National Urban League President & CEO Marc Morial, and Healthfirst President & CEO Pat Wang. The task force will work to ensure vulnerable and underserved communities are not left behind by breaking down the barriers to vaccination and ensuring there is equitable distribution of the vaccine across the state.
New York is developing Community Vaccination Kits to send to communities, particularly those located in so-called "health care deserts" without doctors, care centers or hospitals nearby. the "kits" will provide supplies and resources needed for standing up vaccination sites.
As vaccinations accelerate, 164 New Yorkers died of COVID-19 Tuesday, among them one person in Dutchess County, four in Orange, five in Rockland, one in Ulster and seven in Westchester.
"I have one message for New Yorkers this holiday season — celebrating smart stops shutdowns," Cuomo said. "I don't believe we are destined for a shutdown and I want to do everything we can to avoid one, but as I have been saying, that will be determined by our actions and the next 10 days are going to be key for us. We have already been working with hospitals to ensure they have sufficient capacity and to date, none have reported that they are close to being overwhelmed. Now it's on the rest of us to stay smart. If we all stay united and wear masks, socially distance and wash our hands, we will reach the light at the end of the tunnel."
This article originally appeared on the Peekskill-Cortlandt Patch
