While hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers are waiting to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, a surprising resident has secured his coveted jab: a famous fitness trainer and a SoulCycle instructor.
“VACCINE DAY! Step One of Modern Magic !! An hour’s drive to ISOLA STATEN is worth every minute! A village is needed, ”said Stacey Griffith, a 52-year-old fitness guru. New York Times, proudly announced in an Instagram post deleted since then.
But moments after Griffith revealed to the 64,200 followers that she was among the approximately 850,000 New York residents who had received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, she was met with angry reactions.
“My wife has stage 4 cancer, which has to deal with the fear and risk of going to a weekly cancer center while being immunosuppressed during COVID to receive the treatment that keeps her alive. . It’s at least 2-3 months after vaccine eligibility, “said Gabrielle Novacek, a Chicago consultant.
“As a caregiver she depends on to support her, I have at least 4-5 months. But yes, let’s celebrate making the world safe for the personal spin class in the midst of a global pandemic. What is left of any respect I had for Soul and the leaders it celebrates is over and gone, ”she added.
Griffith, who places $ 800 per class, according to a recent Vox story, claimed in a text message that her role as an “educator” made her eligible for the coveted COVID-19 vaccination.
“Getting vaccinated can stop the short spread in groups!” Griffith told The Daily Beast. “I work as a common ground for many people who overlap. In my health and wellness profession as a teacher, it is my daily priority to keep my community and respiratory system running at full capacity so that I can beat this virus if I am infected with it. I can only teach them if I am healthy. ”
Griffith added that “he had the same opportunity as everyone else, going online and filling out a questionnaire” and insisted that he had not received “any service, I did not pay anyone”.
“All teachers are eligible to apply for the vaccine. My post today was to show my confidence in the system, in our government and I hope that everyone can feel at least more comfortable knowing that I went through the process! She added.
Asked if all SoulCycle instructors were eligible for the vaccine, she said, “Absolutely not.”
According to the New York Department of Health, the city has entered phase 1B of vaccination launches, making health care workers, residents over 65, grocery store workers and specific types of teachers eligible for jabs. While eligible teachers include those who teach K-12, in-person college instructors, and child care providers – the list does not include crazy fitness teachers.
“Generally speaking, it’s difficult for us to comment on individuals because of privacy,” a New York Department of Health spokesman told The Daily Beast when asked about Griffith’s jab on Friday. “I’ll see what I can find out if I can say something.”
The fact that Griffith was vaccinated in New York, while thousands of teachers, social workers and residents with pre-existing conditions cannot get a meeting further illustrates the rocky development in the Empire State.
Thousands of teachers in New York who are eligible for the vaccine have reported that their appointments have been canceled due to supply and scheduling issues. Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers, said for New York Post This week, about 20,000 teachers applied for appointments through the union – and another 10,000 went through their healthcare providers. But only a quarter of the 30,000 teachers had received either the vaccine.
One problem, according to Mulgrew, is that the city has canceled mass meetings due to lack of vaccination and scheduling problems. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio revealed Wednesday that Moderna vaccine deliveries have been delayed and that he has asked the federal government for increased deliveries and the ability to use the second dose in the first photos.
“We had to reschedule 23,000 New Yorkers and tell them they would not be able to receive this appointment due to lack of supply,” de Blasio said.
While this slow launch may mean that many eligible people are stuck on waiting lists, it has not easily closed the door on healthy young Americans – many of whom have used their connections and considerable financial resources to cut the line and justify it.
The New York mayor’s office and SoulCycle did not immediately respond to The Daily Beast’s request for comment.
For her part, Griffith said she deleted her post after the vitriol became overwhelming.
“I hate controversy,” she told The Daily Beast, adding, “I’m saddened that people are turning black and evil, that I’m just trying to do the right thing and be safe.”