Counties can vaccinate restaurant employees, others after feds increase remittances, says Cuomo

New York – Local New York governments are now allowed to vaccinate restaurant workers, taxi and Uber drivers and individuals in facilities for the disabled, said Governor Andrew Cuomo.

The final decision on the management of some or all of these groups will rest with the local health departments, said Cuomo during a news conference in New York City.

The shift comes at a time when the federal government is increasing vaccine shipments to states. Cuomo said President Joe Biden’s administration told governors on a conference call today that a previously announced 16% increase in vaccine deliveries will be a 20% increase.

For New York, this means an increase from 250,000 doses to 300,000. That number is guaranteed for at least the next three weeks.

Pharmacies will also begin to receive separate weekly injections from the feds, Cuomo said. In New York, they will receive 30,000 doses per week.

“We are getting more,” said Cuomo of the extra vaccines. “So now there is additional flexibility.”

Cuomo said he is leaving the final decision to local governments because vaccination campaigns vary from place to place. He said he wants to give local leaders the freedom to design a program that makes sense for their communities.

Onondaga County executive Ryan McMahon is considering the idea of ​​vaccinating restaurant workers, said Justin Sayles, a county spokesman.

Cuomo said he had no new details about when people with compromised immune systems could become eligible for vaccines. The state initially said that these individuals would have been eligible for several weeks, when vaccines were also opened to people aged 65 and over.

But it hasn’t happened yet. Cuomo said the Biden government is reviewing the matter.

The problem is which conditions to include in the potential eligibility. The population can grow rapidly and make the shots even more difficult to obtain than they already are, said Cuomo.

“Eligibility without availability is illusory,” he said. “You create additional anxiety.”

Team writer Tim Knauss contributed to this story

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: cases, maps, charts and resources

Will we have a NY State Fair in 2021? Taste of Syracuse? Plans are underway, but there are no doubts

Elderly ONList: Check your email frequently to get the Covond-19 vaccine from Onondaga County

CNY new mother in life support after Covid complications improving

Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

Contact Kevin Tampone at any time: The e-mail | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598