Today, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced some exciting news: vaccine measures are moving along and New York is slated to receive enough for 170,000 New Yorkers by December 15 from the federal government.
He shared the news in a press conference today (Dec. 2), and it will be the vaccine that Pfizer produced.
New York’s first delivery of the Pfizer vaccine will be enough for 170,000 New Yorkers.
We expect, if all safety & efficacy approvals are granted, to receive these doses on December 15.
— Archive: Governor Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) December 2, 2020
He hasn’t clarified yet how many of those will go to NYC. He did say that he agreed with the CDC’s recommendations to have the first doses go to hospital/emergency room workers and workers and residents at long-term care facilities/nursing homes. Since it is a two-dose vaccine, about 21 days later the state is expected to received the second batch of 170,000 doses (going to the same people). He said they are also set to receive a portion of Moderna’s vaccine at some point in between.
Cuomo called the process of distributing the vaccine the “largest governmental operation undertaken since World War II,” and that he has appointed former Secretary to the Governor Larry Schwartz to lead the effort.
Of course it is only the beginning, as the population of New York State is 19.4 million.
This article will be updated as more information is shared.
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