ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Children between the ages of 12 and 15 can get vaccinated in New York state effective immediately.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo made the announcement late Wednesday after the state's vaccine advisory task force and state health commissioner reviewed safety data.
New York City health officials and national pharmacy chain CVS had already said Wednesday that they're prepared to start vaccinating children ages 12 to 15 as early as Thursday, after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine advisory committee formally recommend the Pfizer vaccine for that age group.
Cuomo had said the state's task force had to review the data and make a recommendation to him before that could happen.
“I accepted their recommendation and am authorizing all providers enrolled in the NYS COVID-19 vaccination program to expand eligibility for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to people in the 12-15 age group, effective immediately,” the governor said.
Cuomo said 17 million vaccine doses had been administered in the state to date and “vaccine authorization for a younger population will allow the state to continue its tremendous progress towards winning the war against COVID.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio and health officials in New York City had said they have plans to start vaccinating children ages 12 to 15 on Thursday.
“We have a full plan to reach young New Yorkers and get them vaccinated,” de Blasio told reporters Wednesday.
It’s unclear when people can start signing up for appointments, but a spokesperson for the city’s health department said appointments will be listed as soon as possible.
City Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi said more than 250 sites in the city administer the Pfizer vaccine, including the American Museum of Natural History, neighborhood pharmacies and pop-up vaccination sites. The sites are also taking walk-up appointments, he added.
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