Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - While Uber and Lyft Drivers and restaurant workers got the OK earlier this week, cancer patients and others with serious illness that make them more susceptible to complications from COVID are not on the list of New Yorkers who are eligible to receive the COVID vaccine.
As more groups get added, when will the immunocompromised get their turn?
"Believe me we advocate every day, day in and out. We get everyone we can connect with to help us in advocating for that," said Dr. Candace Johnson, President and CEO of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. "We're in a bad situation because there's not enough vaccine."
In January, the State announced it would be opening up Phase 1B of vaccine distribution to people who are immunocompromised, but there is still no clear guidance on exactly what conditions that includes and where they would be able to get the shot. At the same time, Uber sent a notice to their registered drivers with information on how they can access vaccination appointments.
"What the Governor is trying to do... we're looking at age so over 65, they have vulnerabilities because of age," Dr. Johnson said. "If you layer on cancer, that is an extra vulnerability, so those are the first cancer patients we need to focus on and I think shortly we'll be doing them because we've already started to do some of those patients if we have the vaccine."
