Syracuse, NY – An unpublished web link for vaccination registrations for Covid-19 in New York was leaked and posted on social media this week, allowing many people to query sites that have not yet been opened, state officials said today.
The breach allowed people to make appointments at six vaccination sites that the State Department of Health is still in the planning stage: Binghamton, Buffalo, Plattsburgh, Potsdam, Stony Brook and Utica.
All appointments have been canceled and people who signed up are being contacted, a press release from the office of Marcy Stevens, general counsel for the state’s Office of Information Technology Services, said.
“As this pandemic has shown, equity and equal access are essential in the distribution of the vaccine and, to ensure that these principles are followed, all unauthorized consultations have been canceled,” said the statement. “We will continue to safeguard all information from New Yorkers and ensure equal access to the vaccine for all eligible people.”
The statement did not say who leaked the registration link, where it appeared on social media or how many people marked it. He said that the matter was referred to the State General Inspectorate, which investigates the conduct of State officials and agencies.
About 7 million New Yorkers are now eligible for injections, although the state is receiving only about 300,000 doses a week. The health department announced today that consultations at all state-run locations are scheduled until mid-April. Five sites are open and another 15 are planned.
If you signed up for a meeting at one of these six sites and canceled it, we would like to speak with you and include your story in an article for Syracuse.com. Call reporter Glenn Coin at 315-470-3251.
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