COVID Vaccine Concerns: Eligible To Be Inoculated Monday, Some Medical Workers Perplexed By Lack Of Guidance From NYS

COVID Vaccine Concerns: Eligible To Be Inoculated Monday, Some Medical Workers Perplexed By Lack Of Guidance From NYS

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Frustration is growing over the slow pace of vaccinations being distributed in New York state.

On Monday, all medical workers, including those in private practice, are eligible, but some told CBS2’s Lisa Rozner they have received no guidance.

MORE: COVID Vaccine: Long Island Nurse, Lawmakers Say New York Needs To Speed Up Rollout

The staff at Gramercy Pediatrics has been going to great lengths to disinfect between patients, but owner Dr. Dyan Hes says the staff has not heard a word the state or city about how to get vaccinated on Monday, when all medical staff, including those in general practices and specialists’ offices, are eligible, Rozner reported Sunday.

“This is insanity and yet I see people posting on Facebook, who work in like fundraising at large hospitals getting the vaccine, who do telehealth and never come in contact with a patient. Yet, like we are literally in the trenches,” Hes said. “I have a friend, a colleague, private practice anesthesiologist, who literally intubates patients all day. Her face is in their faces. She’s trying to do the best.”

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The latest stats from the state show 630,000 doses have arrived, yet less than one-third — 203,000 — have been administered.

New York City health officials told Rozner more information would be available Monday.

Meanwhile, Gov. Andrew Cuomo spoke virtually Sunday to Abysinnian Baptist Church in Harlem, preaching the importance of getting vaccinated.

“I would feel much safer if I took the vaccine, but I will not take the vaccine until the vaccine is available for my group in Black, Hispanic, and poor communities around the state,” Cuomo said.

MORE: Joe Biden Warns Trump Administration’s Vaccine Distribution Plans Are ‘Falling Far Behind’

Councilman Mark Levine, chair of the city’s Health Committee, tweeted he’s proposing legislation that will “require at least one COVID vaccination site (pod) in each zip code to be open 24/7.”

In New Jersey, on Monday at 9 a.m. frontline health care workers at University Hospital in Newark will already get their second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Nationally, around 4 million people have been vaccinated. The original goal was to administer the injections to 20 million people by now.

CBS2’s Lisa Rozner contributed to this report

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January 04, 2021 at 08:30AM