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Over 250,000 New Yorkers Booked State Vaccination Appointments, Following Latest Eligibility Expansion
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 16, 2021
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NY Governor's office
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 16, 2021
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Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that more than a quarter million COVID-19 vaccine appointments were made on Sunday, after eligibility opened for people with underlying conditions. But due to the lack of vaccine supply, all but four state-run vaccination sites are fully booked through April 16th.
Last week, state officials announced that millions of New Yorkers with pre-existing conditions like cancer, kidney disease, pregnancy, immunocompromised states such as being HIV positive , and obesity would be able to register for vaccinations on February 14th. In New York City alone, the pool of the eligible parties, including prior groups such as essential workers and those over 65 years old, has now expanded to 4.5 million people.
On Sunday, the state’s website was overwhelmed by those eager to make appointments. Some found blank questions on the registration forms, while others were stopped by server issues. Some residents in New York City were offered appointments five hours away, upstate in Potsdam. Users shared tips and complaints on social media:
Cuomo’s office, which claimed that New Yorkers had been warned that demand would be high, said on Tuesday that nearly 10,000 appointments were made per hour on Sunday. The state’s hotline—1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829) —experienced an average wait time of 24 minutes and 43 seconds and an additional 13 minutes and 36 seconds, on average, to book an appointment.
"We're working hard to expand eligibility, make it easier for New Yorkers to get appointments and get shots in arms throughout the state, and the system is working," Governor Cuomo said in a statement. "250,000 appointments in a single day is a milestone, and we can do more—we just need more vaccine supply.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, appointments at all of New York’s state-run sites are booked through April 16th, except for New York State Fair in Syracuse (through March 16th), SUNY Potsdam (through April 1st), Rochester Dome (through April 4th), and SUNY Stony Brook (through April 13th).
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COVID-19
governor cuomo
coronavirus
vaccine
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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