NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled the city's two-phase plan for immunizing New Yorkers against COVID-19 when a vaccine becomes available.
"It's one thing to think about a vaccine or talk about a vaccine, it's a very different thing to actually reach millions and millions of people," de Blasio said at his Wednesday briefing.
The mayor said there will be a lot of logistical work to do and that preparation is already underway, with the city and state working together.
De Blasio said the city's vaccine plan involves monitoring federal development and production, distributing the vaccine, educating and enrolling people and building trust so people get vaccinated.
Phase 1 will focus on people who need the vaccine most, including healthcare personnel, frontline and essential workers and vulnerable groups.
The city will begin enrolling providers in a citywide immunization registry during Phase 1.
Phase 2 will involve making the vaccine widely available to the general public.
Under Phase 2, the city will ensure adequate cold storage of the vaccine and continue to recruit and prepare community providers, including pharmacies, urgent care, private and public hospitals and COVID testing sites.
City Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi said the city is preparing for the first phase of distribution.
Chokshi said the city is closely tracking the science to understand when a safe and effective vaccine will be available; enrolling and educating doctors and other clinicians; adapting databases to track orders and uptake; and developing detailed operational plans related to vaccine distribution, storage and administration.
"In other words, we're marshaling the entirety of our public health infrastructure to meet this challenge," Chokshi said.
