While the cases of COVID-19 in the Great Apple run at high speed On a wide highway, the vaccination plan remains stuck on a slow road, which began to be released this Wednesday, when State health authorities gave the green light for workers caring for the sick and elderly at home, In addition to officers from the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and correctional facilities, they are incorporated immediately to the immunization program.
Mayor Bill de Blasio assured that he also encourages New Yorkers over 75 years old and to this are added all the essential workers, including the teachers the first phase of vaccination, reserved in protocols for high-risk staff of the hospital system and boarding schools for the elderly.
“We need the freedom to be vaccinated, because with this flexibility, we can reach many more people“, Said the mayor who insists on the goal of one million immunizations before January 31.
The mayor confirmed that he had received permission to incorporate a high-priority category of people in the first stage, such as home care workers and effective a Uniformatul answering calls from emergency at 911.
It is calculated based on the latest records that exist in New York 202,000 home caregivers, of which more than 70% come from Hispanic and African American minorities.
“It simply came to our notice then. I want to go even further with the people who do crucial work for our families. Please get vaccinated immediately”De Blasio pointed out.
This week, around 25,000 NYPD staff members are eligible to be inoculated with the new drug. The city estimates that approximately 10,000 officers they are already immunized for next Sunday.
Let’s vaccinate older adults!
According to data from the City Health Department (DOHMH) in the last 30 days, there are alarming trends in cases and hospitalizations of adults over 75 years. 58% of those who died during this period They belong to this age group which has a positive infection rate of 12%.
That is why we are convinced that New Yorkers over the age of 75 should be eligible for the vaccine as soon as possible. Several states have already given priority to this issue. As a city, we are increasing our points access to doses, doing everything possible to expand our response if we are self-directed, ”said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi.
Elected leaders condemn the slow plan
Just before the controversy over the “slowdown” in the vaccination scheme, Elected leaders in New York City this Wednesday they stood before the state and city health authorities so Hurry up and change the roadmap regarding the groups that should start immunization as early as this week.
“Home care workers for the elderly, supermarket employees, “deliveries”, labor in the city’s transport system, New Yorkers over the age of 75 and residents of postcard neighborhoods most affected by the pandemic, who are coincidentally the poorest, should also be at the top of the list, “said Eric Adams. , President of the Brooklyn Borough at a demonstration in front of a New York Health + Hospitals testing center in Inwood.
The request, which was signed by the presidents of all New York counties, a group of assembly members and councilors and the Ombudsman, points out that the vaccination process is confusing for a bureaucratic struggle between the Governor and the City Hall, while the communities “continue to suffer economically and emotionally the punishment of the virus.
The elected leaders condemned the fact that the great Mar for three weeks received 340,000 doses of new drug and so far they have barely been injected 110,000 New Yorkers.
“The positivity rate is already 9%, and deaths continue to rise, while we have a slow and inaccurate vaccination program. We need the health authorities a clearer guide to action and immediately incorporate other groups of New Yorkers exposed to COVID-19, ”said Gale Brewer, President Manhattan County.
Look at the slums
Similarly, Councilor Ydanis Rodríguez described as an important advance the fact that home workers providing services to the elderly and the sick may soon be part of this immunization process, but considers it necessary to “Make other leaps” in favor of the neighborhoods most affected by the pandemic.
“We need to focus on the postal areas that correspond to the poorest localities where the majority are Latin Americans, African Americans and Asians, as well as how it was possible to extend the test plan that did not exist in any way last spring, “said the Dominican politician.
In the meantime, Quisqueyano Eleazar Bine, president of the the Community Council 12 in Upper Manhattan, advocates for health authorities to use zip code data ranging from 10032 to 10040, belonging to Washington Heights – Inwood, where the highest number of victims and infections is registered Immediate immune priorities.
“It simply came to our notice then. We must be a priority if you really want to stop the pandemic and thus recover the economy “, argued the community leader.
Steps in New York:
- 25 access points, which span community clinics, emergency care sites and Health + Hospitals points and emerging DOHMH clinics were incorporated into the immunization strategy in the Big Apple this week.
- 100,000 inoculations That’s the goal the city set for itself this week.
How long do you need to get vaccinated?
For more detailed information about phases, encounters and doubts for the New York vaccination plan, see: nyc.gov/covid19/vaccine