Syracuse, NY (WBEN) Governor Cuomo announces the minimum age to get a vaccine is being dropped to 60. Those now eligible can begin making appointments.
Cuomo says the supply of vaccine is increasing, allowing him to increase distribution levels. "I'm very pleased to say our first level was 65+, because COVID affects older people more, so our first threshold was 65 plus. We're going to drop it to 60 plus, starting tomorrow," says Cuomo.
Gov. Cuomo Tours NYS Fair Vaccination SiteIn Syracuse touring the NYS Fair vaccination site. Watch live:
Posted by Governor Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Cuomo says those now eligible can make appointments starting at 8am Wednesday at mass vaccination sites or at pharmacies.
Starting March 17, Cuomo says all sites can vaccinate anyone who is eligible. "Whether you're going to a county run side or a mass vaccination site, every site can vaccinate anyone eligible except pharmacies will only vaccinate 60 plus and teachers," says Cuomo. He says that's because it's not as easy for pharmacies to identify different types of workers, but they can identify age easily.
Cuomo adds the following essential workers will now be eligible to begin receiving the COVID-19 vaccine on March 17:
· Public-facing government and public employees
· Not-for-profit workers who provide public-facing services to New Yorkers in need
· Essential in-person public-facing building service workers
This includes workers such as public works employees, social service and child service caseworkers, government inspectors, sanitation workers, DMV workers, County Clerks, building service workers and election workers - the everyday heroes who have been showing up day in and day out throughout this pandemic.
