Cuomo urges feds to increase vaccination supply

Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Governor Cuomo says the federal government needs to speed up supplies of the COVID19 vaccine. He's also concerned about the UK strain that's affecting NYS.

"We hope, pray and expect the supply from the federal government will be increasing, but we need it to increase," says Cuomo. He says 900,000 vaccines have been distributed for 2.1 million health care workers. Cuomo says that's not enough vaccine distributed for all health care workers.

Cuomo says there will be 351 retail networks throughout WNY. There will be no charge for the vaccine, when the vaccine becomes available for the general public. "You can call a pharmacy, we have federally qualified health centers, county health departments, urgent care clinics that will have the vaccine for the distribution when we get to the general public," says Cuomo. "The distribution system will outpace our supply system, which is the way it's supposed to be."

On special efforts, the governor said police and fire departments should operationalize vaccines if it's possible. He also said SUNY sites will be used as sites for vaccines. Churches and community centers can be used as "pop up" sites.

Cuomo also addressed the UK strain, which was found in Saratoga County Monday. "There's a second strain, and it came from the UK again, and again, the USA did absolutely nothing," says Cuomo. "Secretary Azar, Dr. Redfield, how can you explain to the American people your lack of action, your negligence, your irresponsibility? 140 nations banned people from the UK and you did nothing. You know there are viral strains in other countries. Why wouldn't you mandate testing?"

Cuomo says if the US won't act, NYS will act. "I can't allow people to fly into this state who we know are coming from countries that have other viral strains," says Cuomo. "To allow the virus to land in our airports and to make New York a Petri dish and the federal government does nothing, I can't allow that to happen."