Dear Neighbor,
I want to use this message to provide the latest vaccine updates for you. Due to the quantity and importance of new information, this email will focus solely on vaccine updates.
COVID-19 Vaccine Program Update: Group 1B (New Yorkers 75+ and Designated Frontline Essential Workers) Now Eligible to Receive the COVID-19 Vaccine
As of today, New Yorkers 75 and above who live independently (in non-congregate settings), and designated frontline essential workers are eligible to receive the vaccine. Designated frontline essential workers include, but are not limited to:
- Education workers (pre-K through 12 teachers and education workers, licensed and registered childcare providers, and school-bus drivers);
- First responders (local police, State Police, Sheriff’s Office employees, professional and volunteer firefighters);
- EMS workers (including professional and volunteer paramedics and EMTs);
- Public transit workers (airline and airport employees, passenger railroad employees, subway and mass transit employees, ferry employees, Port Authority employees, and public bus drivers); and
- Public safety workers.
A complete list of Group 1A and 1B New Yorkers who are eligible is available at: https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/phased-distribution-vaccine#phase-1a—phase-1b
NYS Has Launched a New Vaccine Eligibility and Reservation Website and Telephone Hotline
The State has launched a new website that allows New Yorkers to check on their vaccine eligibility and make a vaccination reservation if they are eligible: https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/. Vaccine sites including pharmacies and the Javitz Center are listed. This is a website that allows New Yorkers to make reservations throughout the state. I encourage you to visit this website first to make a reservation, as it appears to have listings for more community-based vaccine sites than the NYC website at this point.
The State has also launched a vaccination reservation hotline, which will be operational as of 4:00 p.m. this afternoon: 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829), allowing New Yorkers to make a reservation by phone.
NYC Has Launched a New Vaccine Reservation Website and Telephone Hotline
The new NYC Health Department vaccine reservation website has been launched at: https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/. Once you access the website, you will be prompted to enter your address or zip code, and you will be able to see all live vaccine sites within the existing health care infrastructure (Federally Qualified Health Centers, Urgent Care Centers, pharmacies, doctors’ offices, etc) in New York City. For each vaccine site, a phone number or website link is provided to schedule an appointment.
New Yorkers may also call the City Hotline to make a vaccine reservation: 877-VAX-4NYC. Hotline hours are currently 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Supply of vaccine is very limited and will fluctuate daily, so you may not be able to make an appointment right away. Vaccine sites are scheduling appointments no more than a couple of weeks out because there is uncertainty about vaccine supply.
On a positive note, however, City officials have informed my office that additional vaccine sites are coming online every day, and new appointment slots will be added on a regular basis. The Mayor announced this morning that a 24/7 Mega Vaccination Site will be operational starting Tuesday, January 12 at 125 Worth Street in Lower Manhattan, by appointment only. Keep checking the website frequently for updated availability of appointments!
In addition to the NYS and NYC vaccine reservation websites, you can also schedule an appointment at a Mount Sinai Hospital facility by visiting Mount Sinai’s reservation directly at: https://www.mountsinai.org/about/covid19/vaccine-information/schedule.
Please Be Patient – There Will Be System Delays and It Will Take Time to Obtain a Sufficient Vaccine Supply
I ask for your patience as the City and State work on facilitating vaccine reservations for a high volume of New Yorkers by phone and online. Please keep the following in mind when making reservations:
- The City and State both have a limited supply of the COVID-19 vaccine, and therefore, whether you make a reservation on the State or City website, there may be a delay in getting a reservation. Please visit the reservation websites regularly to check for new appointment availability.
- Due to the high volume of New Yorkers in Groups 1A and 1B who will be making vaccine reservations, it will likely be necessary to call several times before you are able to speak with a representative.
- Reservation websites may experience technical issues due to the high volume of New Yorkers making reservations online.
- Even though Group 1B New Yorkers are eligible for the vaccine as of today, you may have to wait weeks or up to 3 months to get the vaccine due to limited supplies of the vaccine.
Steps to Getting a Vaccination
The following are the steps involved with obtaining a COVID-19 vaccination:
- Schedule an appointment by phone or online (keep trying if you do not get through or cannot get an appointment right away)
- Complete the NYS COVID-19 Vaccine Form before getting the vaccine. The State requires the provider administering the vaccine to check completion of the form.
o Complete the form online: https://forms.ny.gov/s3/vaccine,
OR
o Download and complete the following PDF version: https://hca-nys.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/doh-covid-vaccine-form-instructions.pdf
- You must wear a face covering and social distance while at the vaccine site
- If you do not feel well on the day of your appointment, please stay home and reschedule your appointment
Additionally, New Yorkers will need to bring proof of eligibility. Eligible essential workers will need to bring proof of employment, such as an employee ID card, a letter from an employer or affiliated organization, or a recent pay stub.
If you have questions or concerns about the FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines, please take a look at the following fact sheet developed by the NYC Health Department: https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/covid/covid-19-vaccines-faq.pdf.
I will provide updates as additional information is made available.
Thursday, January 14th Virtual Town Hall on COVID-19 and the Vaccines: Due to Strong Interest, Zoom and Telephone Call-In Options No Longer Available. You Can Still View the Town Hall Live on Facebook.
On Thursday, January 14th at 4:00 p.m., I will be joined by Dr. Dave Chokshi, Commissioner of the NYC Health Department, during my Vaccine Town Hall to speak about the vaccines and the vaccination process. Due to strong interest in the Vaccine Town Hall, the Zoom and telephone call-in options to view and/or listen to the event are no longer available. Zoom has a capacity of 500, including call-in participants; we have reached that limit.
We encourage you to watch the event on Facebook at www.facebook.com/statesenatorlizkrueger – you do not need a Facebook account or profile to do so.
Stay safe and healthy. As always, if you have any questions or need assistance, please email or call my office at lkrueger@nysenate.gov or 212-490-9535. If you need assistance with an unemployment issue, please follow this link to complete an unemployment intake web form so that my office can provide assistance: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfF5eMgY_Jrjh_1_qXlx0ri7coPS01j4GvWJ4Lu7mpWTG2kNQ/viewform.
Safety Practices to Protect Yourself and Others from Contracting COVID-19: 1. Wear a face covering whenever you are outside of your home, and make sure that your face covering fully covers your nose and mouth. 2. Maintain social distance of at least 6 feet from others who are not a part of your household, whether you are doing laundry, shopping, standing in line, or walking outside, etc. 3. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or with hand sanitizer. 4. Avoid touching counters, elevator buttons, and door handles with your bare hands whenever possible, and do not touch your face with unwashed hands. 5. If you are not feeling well, please stay home. 6. Get a flu shot. |
Best,
Liz Krueger
State Senator