On the surface, the Covid vaccination program seems to be standing still. In fact, it is glacially slow, but the State leadership is responding to need and there have been some changes.
The NYC Department of Immunization responded to my email. It was polite, almost apologetic, stating that they were aware of my approved application, but they were compelled to follow the instructions from Albany about which centers would get the vaccine first. So, I have to wait, but here are some new resources that you can use to get a vaccine at your earliest opportunity.
1. Please try these URL addresses. I will explain how they can help you.
2. The first link takes you to a list of centers in all five boroughs that have the vaccine.
3. The second link connects to a government form which is very short and simple to fill in. After the “submit” button is clicked it sends back a form with a check mark on top and in tiny numbers and letters, a long code which is supposed to be the official code entitling the holder of the form to a vaccine. It was my impression that producing this approval alone would entitle the holder to the vaccine. Two of my health worker friends produced this form and were still asked for a letter from their employer attesting that they were healthcare workers presently employed as well as government issued photo ID cards. After this they received the vaccine. When you make your appointment ask exactly what documents you need to bring so that you don’t get turned away.
4. The list of locations reveals that the government is trying to spread vaccination centers out widely. Small groups can phone to get adjacent appointments so they can go together to these areas. This may be faster than waiting for the vaccine to come to your neighborhood. Because even after the first injection it still takes 6 weeks until full immunity is reached, even small delays in getting the vaccine can lead to a prolonged time period with risk of infection.
5. Who can get it. Originally the government authorized the Phase 1A list to receive the vaccine. This list includes among others, health workers all the way to medical office administration staff and mental health workers in addition to many others. The list also includes home care workers. This last category could be very useful to those who help the homebound. We won’t know how this last category is being defined until large numbers of people start to claim it.
Governor Cuomo has now declared that starting on Monday, January 11 individuals on the Phase 1B list will be eligible for the vaccine. The phase 1B list greatly expands the list of candidates. It includes individuals above the age of 75 and all teachers and educators. The list of essential workers seems to be very restricted, but I would encourage younger individuals who have an essential profession to try to use that category to apply for the vaccine. Because of the tension I expect that there will be daily adjustments in the criteria. The link to this announcement is:
Unfortunately, the Phase 1B list has been split so that the individuals with serious medical conditions and "other" essential workers must wait until February. I would hope that public interest will get the remainder of the Phase 1B list authorized sooner. The individual centers are under draconian threats from the State government to conform to the State directions. They will certainly adhere to the letter of the law and the individuals with serious medical conditions will have to wait until Governor Cuomo approves them.
6. In summary: Availability to get the vaccine is beginning to reach the general community. It is heavily regulated. I encourage everyone to review the internet lists and information carefully to find the most advantageous combination of places and definitions to warrant getting the vaccine as soon as possible.
7. I remain committed to communicating immediately any useful information that I receive. Please report to me any centers that administered the vaccine efficiently and courteously, I will inform the whole subscriber list without revealing the reporter’s name. You can do this in the comment section of this blog post or to the email address listed on the website. Nobody who has not had Covid is safe. That is why vaccination is such a vital goal for us.