NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- New York state will expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to residents with certain comorbidities this month, and begin vaccinating older inmates, as well as inmates with medical conditions, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Friday.
New Yorkers with the following comorbidities will be eligible for vaccines starting Monday, Feb. 15, Cuomo said in a press release Friday afternoon:
- Cancer (current or in remission, including 9/11-related cancers)
- Chronic kidney disease
- Pulmonary Disease, including but not limited to, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma (moderate-to-severe), pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and 9/11 related pulmonary diseases
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities including Down Syndrome
- Heart conditions, including but not limited to heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies, or hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) including but not limited to solid organ transplant or from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, use of other immune weakening medicines, or other causes
- Severe Obesity (BMI 40 kg/m2), Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
- Pregnancy
- Sickle cell disease or Thalassemia
- Type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus
- Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
- Neurologic conditions including but not limited to Alzheimer's Disease or dementia
- Liver disease
Cuomo also said the state started vaccinating inmates who are 65 years or older, as well as inmates with the above comorbidities, on Friday.
"New Yorkers with comorbidities and underlying conditions exist throughout the state's population — they're our teachers, lawyers and carpenters, in addition to the doctors who keep us safe every day, and they are a highly affected population," Cuomo said in a statement.
"We're committed to vaccinating vulnerable populations that have suffered the most as we distribute a strictly limited supply of vaccines, and people with comorbidities are 94 percent of the state's COVID deaths," he added.
“We are vaccinating people in prisons on the same basis that we’re vaccinating” all New Yorkers, the governor said.
People with an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 include those with cancer, heart conditions, obesity and type 2 diabetes, among other conditions, according to the CDC.
Cuomo said hospitals will have another week to vaccinate their staff. Doses that had been set aside for hospital workers will then be given to local health departments to vaccinate people with comorbidities.
“Hospitals, you have one more week to get your hospital staff to accept the vaccine, and then we’ll focus on the comorbidities,” the governor said.
“We do not have a supply that can reach everyone,” he added. “We understand that. So the prioritization is to reach those people who are most at risk or most essential to this period of time.”