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Cuomo: Federal vaccine supply to increase to 20% for next 3 weeks

Tue, Feb 2nd 2021 03:35 pm

√ Total of 2 million vaccines administered to date

√ Private pharmacies will receive an additional 10% directly from federal government to supplement doses allocated to them by the state

√ As of noon today, New York's health care distribution sites have administered 91% of first doses received from federal government

Vaccine Dashboard will update daily to provide updates on the state's vaccine program; go to ny.gov/vaccinetracker

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday updated New Yorkers on the state's vaccination program. As of noon, New York's health care distribution sites have received 1,554,450 first doses and already administered 91% (1,414,241) first-dose vaccinations and 76% of first and second doses. Delivery of the week 8 allocation from the federal government begins mid-week.

Following a call with the White House, Cuomo – who chairs the National Governors Association – announced the federal supply to the states will increase to 20% for the next three weeks, up from the initial 16% bump. Private pharmacies in the state who are charged with prioritizing the 65-plus population will now receive an additional 10% (about 30,000 doses) directly from the federal government to supplement the doses allocated to them by the state.

Given the overall increase to the state's supply, the governor is granting localities the flexibility to add restaurant workers, taxi drivers, and developmentally disabled facilities to the 1B vaccine prioritization group.

"We're in a footrace to vaccinate the entire eligible population while continuing to keep the infection rate low," Cuomo said. "We're moving heaven and earth to administer as many doses as possible, but on a global level we are experiencing high demand and scarce amounts of the vaccine. We have much more distribution in place than we have supply, and as soon as we have more doses from the federal government we can get those shots in the arms of New Yorkers as quickly and fairly, while continuing to make sure the communities hardest hit have access to and trust in the vaccine. In the meantime, I urge New Yorkers to be smart and take measures we know work to keep the infection rate low: wear a mask, wash your hands and socially distance."

State demographic data of hospital workers in the 1A eligibility group who were offered and accepted the vaccine provides insight into the vaccine hesitancy/acceptance rate among New Yorkers. The demographic breakdown of the eligible 1A population is 70% white; 17% Black; 8% Hispanic or Latino; and 11% Asian hospital workers. Of the total 1A eligible population, 63% of vaccine recipients were white, 10% of vaccine recipients were Black; 10% of vaccine recipients were Hispanic or Latino, and 16% of vaccine recipients were Asian.

Approximately 7.1 million New Yorkers are currently eligible to receive the vaccine. The federal government has increased the weekly supply by 20% over the next three weeks, but New York's vast distribution network and large population of eligible individuals still far exceed the supply coming from the federal government. Due to limited supply, New Yorkers are encouraged to remain patient and are advised not to show up at vaccination sites without an appointment.

Vaccination program numbers are for doses distributed and delivered to New York for the state's vaccination program, and do not include those reserved for the federal government's long-term care facility program.

WNY Coronavirus Stats

Across Western New York, the percentage of new COVID-19 cases continues to drop, post-holiday/post-Buffalo Bills playoffs. The number on Monday was 5.01%.

The Niagara County Department of Health reported 67 new positive cases. The number of active cases across the region is as follows:

  • Town of Lewiston: 61
  • Village of Lewiston: 13
  • City of Lockport: 188
  • City of Niagara Falls: 271
  • Town of Niagara: 64
  • City of North Tonawanda: 128
  • Town of Porter: 23
  • Town of Wheatfield: 89
  • Village of Youngstown: 8

Erie County had 216 new cases on Monday.

There were 57 positive individuals from Grand Island (out of 1,315 tests) for the week ending Jan. 30.

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