New York Governor Andrew Cuomo reported Wednesday that the state expects to receive
170,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine from pharmaceutical company Pfizer on December 15
, as long as federal authorities grant emergency authorization for it to be available to the public.
In that case, New York State plans to
prioritize nursing home residents and employees
when it begins distributing the first doses.
He also expects to receive 40,000 vaccines from the Moderna company at an early date.
That would be enough to supply the 80,000 residents of nursing homes and the more than 130,000 employees.
Although Cuomo has said that he does not expect everyone to agree to the injection.
CDC recommends healthcare workers be the first to get vaccinated against COVID-19
Dec. 1, 202002: 15
So the remaining doses would go to the next priority group, about 40,000 group home residents and the more than
600,000 healthcare workers
who work in clinics, hospitals, emergency rooms and intensive care units.
Cuomo added that New York is waiting for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to finish evaluating emergency use applications for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
[Follow all our coverage on the coronavirus pandemic]
Each of the vaccines requires two doses
and it is estimated that by the end of the year there will be some 20 million doses available, enough in principle to inoculate 10 million people.
New York, like other states, including California, has instructed a group of scientists and experts tasked with reviewing the safety and efficacy of vaccines, to ensure public confidence.
This will not delay its distribution in New York, Cuomo said.
A COVID-19 testing center in Brooklyn, New York;
on November 11, 2020.AP
The governor has asked the federal government
for $ 1 billion
to cover the cost of the vaccines and their distribution.
Homes for older adults have been among the hardest hit by COVID-19.
In New York, thousands of older adults and employees died after contracting the virus during the first wave.
[CDC recommends that healthcare workers and residents of nursing homes be the first to get vaccinated]
"This virus is the greatest public health threat our country has faced in most of our lives and today's governor's announcement recognizes that our residents and healthcare workers are on the front lines of this pandemic," he said to
The Associated Press
Stephen Hanse, President and CEO of the New York State Association of Healthcare Facilities and the New York State Center for Assisted Living.
The number of people hospitalized with the virus statewide now stands at about 3,900,
78% more than two weeks ago
.
New York hospitals and nursing homes reported nearly 400 deaths in the past seven days.
With information from The Associated Press.